The major educational advancement during the Enlightenment was the promotion of reason, empirical evidence, and scientific inquiry as the basis of knowledge. This period saw the establishment of institutions such as academies, universities, and libraries, which encouraged learning and the exchange of ideas. Thinkers like John Locke, Voltaire, and Rousseau emphasized education's role in societal progress, advocating for educational reforms that supported critical thinking and access to knowledge. This intellectual movement laid the groundwork for modern education systems and inspired social reforms, including the development of more inclusive and secular educational structures.