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The era
known historically as the Enlightenment marks the intellectual beginning of
the modern world. Ideas originating in this era would gradually spread around
the world creating challenges to existing traditions and ways of governing.
Many governments today have Enlightenment principles as the basis of their
constitutions and forms of government. In addition, the expansion of suffrage
to women, blacks, and people of all classes is a legacy of the Enlightenment.
Enlightenment ideas on equality also helped end the dominance of social
elites such as the aristocracy and the church. Enlightenment thought also led
many countries to establish systems of public schools and put an end to the
idea that education was only a privilege for the upper classes.
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