The Age of Enlightenment, which lasted throughout much of the 17th and 18th centuries, was an intellectual movement which resulted in overturning many old ideas. Leading European thinkers advocated for personal freedoms and free thought. The Enlightenment is sometimes called the Age of Reason because of its emphasis on rationality. Enlightenment thinkers did not trust the established authorities, such as monarchies of the church. They believed individuals could find truth for themselves and improve society by looking to science, reasoning, and dialogue.
