Answer :
Answer:
the enlightenment was a time of change in ways of thinking.They began to think that they could reason to solve problems.
Explanation:
Final answer:
The Enlightenment began in a Europe dominated by absolutist monarchs who believed in divine right, but it ushered in revolutionary ideas of reason, liberty, and democracy that challenged the status quo and the confluence of political and religious authority.
Explanation:
The Enlightenment's Political Context and its Influence
The political situation in Europe when the Enlightenment began was characterized by absolutism, where monarchs held centralized power and wealth was synonymous with political authority. This era embodied the belief in divine providence, asserting that monarchs were chosen by God. Influence from a worldwide perspective, including intellectual currents from the Ottoman Empire, China, and other regions, also shaped Enlightenment thought. The movement advocated for the principles of liberty, tolerance, and separation of church and state, challenging the existing political and religious structures.
Enlightenment thinkers like Locke, Voltaire, and Rousseau debated the nature of government and the role of rulers. They questioned the divine right of kings and the legitimacy of hereditary rule, suggesting that people have the right to change their government if it does not protect their natural rights. This led to a paradigm shift in how power was perceived and laid the groundwork for constitutional governance and democratic principles.
In conclusion, the political situation in Europe at the onset of the Enlightenment was starkly different from the ideas that would emerge from the movement. The philosophical principles of the Enlightenment, advocating reason over tradition, inspired many to challenge and eventually transform the existing political order, leading to revolutions and the establishment of new political systems based on the protection of natural rights.