The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement that dominated European society from the 17th to 18th centuries. It emphasized reason, science, logic and freedom of thought over myth, faith and absolute authority. The Thirty Years' War, scientific discoveries, and criticism of mistreatment by monarchies and the church fueled the Enlightenment. Enlightenment thinkers produced books and essays that challenged traditional ideas and spread new philosophies, influencing political and social change across Europe.