You may be wondering, what was the 'Enlightenment' and when did the 'Age of Enlightenment' occur? Put simply, the Enlightenment was a period in history, occurring roughly between the late-16th and 18th century, that completely transformed western culture. The 'Age of Reason, as it became known, saw long-established monarchies, religious institutions, social systems, and hierarchies challenged from below and a philosophical search for human improvement.Ideas of liberty, reason, and religious tolerance traversed Europe, creating social upheaval, revolution, and change. At the foundation of this transformation lay the ideas and practices of a few incredibly influential figures, who would each in their own way truly change the world and how people viewed it.