The central theme of the Age of Enlightenment revolved around reason, science, and individual rights as the basis for knowledge and progress. Enlightenment thinkers challenged traditional authority and emphasized the importance of rational thought and empiricism in understanding the world. Ideas such as liberty, equality, and fraternity began to emerge, promoting the notion that individuals should have the freedom to think independently. This cultural and intellectual shift influenced revolutions, democratic movements, and laid the groundwork for modern political philosophy, forever changing the course of history through advocating for human rights.