Final answer:
The Enlightenment was a philosophical movement that emphasized reason and advocated ideals such as liberty and tolerance. It questioned accepted knowledge and paved the way for political revolutions. This period was a major turning point in Western civilization.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Enlightenment, also known as the Age of Enlightenment, was a philosophical movement that dominated the world of ideas in Europe in the 18th century. It emphasized reason as the primary source of authority and advocated ideals such as liberty, progress, tolerance, constitutional government, and separation of church and state.
Enlightenment thinkers like Rousseau, Diderot, and Voltaire questioned accepted knowledge, spread new ideas, and paved the way for political revolutions. The Enlightenment is considered a major turning point in Western civilization.