The Enlightenment was an era in human history in which thinkers and philosophers were convinced that they were rising from centuries of obscurity and unawareness into a new age made clear by reason and a respect for humanity. A number of thinkers and writers, mainly in England and France, believed that they were more educated and informed than their fellow citizens and intended to enlighten them. Society and humanity were seen as being in an inferior condition, and major changes were needed to improve the human condition. However, this belief in progress did not appear out of nowhere, it was instigated by two major historical events: the Protestant Reformation and the Scientific Revolution. Both of these key elements had major effects on the ideas and changes which appeared during the Enlightenment. The Protestant Reformation was a challenging of the Catholic churches' domination over the politics, economics, and culture of European society. The Scientific Revolution was an influential time during which, not only natural scientific and technological advances were made, but also changes in the structure of human thought were established. Both the Protestant Reformation and the Scientific Revolution were events which preceded and directly affected the era of Enlightenment in the history of humankind. The Enlightenment was a consistent progression of these two scientific and religious events, the areas most affected being politics, religion, and the social development of the world.
             In the modern Western world, the greatest issue at the heart of the political debate was the question of the legitimacy of authority. The arguments revolved around the notions of order, authority, and rights. Prior to the 17th century, nations had been lead my monarchs, such as Kings and Queens, but in reality countries were divided. Nations were fragmented by feudalism and divided into states and political units, each having its own political agenda. Th...