Before the age of enlightenment the government in Europe was an absolute monarchy. An absolute monarchy had complete control over the government and nobody could stand up to them because they had complete control. Absolute monarchs believed in divine right. Divine right was the idea that the ruler was born into power and was chosen by god. The absolute monarch at that time was Louis XIV.
The age of enlightenment began in the 1700’s in Europe. Enlightenment was a period of time when people began to question their religion and government. People started to notice that their government began to lie to them about certain things. People began to become angry because they were not given any rights. They were also not allowed to have a say in their government, they were not even allowed to choose their ruler. These ideas began when certain philophers shared their ideas about how government should be run. These new ideas and concepts began to change the lives of many people. Enlightenment shed new light on the old age of absolutism. Enlightenment did exactly what it says in its definition. It made Europe better and helped it rise.
There were many philosophers that lived during this time. One of these philosophers was John Locke. John Locke believed that men were good in nature and could be left alone to govern them selves. He also