Final answer:
The Enlightenment era introduced new ideas about human existence and government, emphasizing human reason and social contract theory.
Step-by-step explanation:
The period of time when people had new ideas about human existence and human government is known as the Enlightenment. This era saw a profound shift in thinking, with an emphasis on human reason and empirical evidence as a means to academic and social advancement. Philosophers like John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau introduced new ideas that were critical of absolute monarchy and supportive of principles such as the social contract and natural rights. The correct answer to the question is: B. Government.