Final answer:
The Illuminati recruited well-educated, rational thinkers and influencers, including intellectuals and politicians, to promote Enlightenment ideals and to potentially influence political decisions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Illuminati were a secret society founded in 1776 in Bavaria by Adam Weishaupt. As an organization influenced by the Enlightenment ideals of rational thought and self-rule, the Illuminati sought to recruit individuals who were well-educated, rational thinkers and had influence in society. These individuals often included intellectuals, politicians, and other prominent members of society. The aim was to promote Enlightenment ideals and to potentially influence political decisions from within societies. With growing suspicions and backlash from various governments and religious groups, they were officially disbanded in 1785.