3. What influence did the Reformation and Renaissance periods have on the Enlightenment movement?

Scholars included Christian meanings in their studies.

People challenged accepted beliefs and authority.

The Bible became the main source of inspiration for writers.

Classical writings formed the basis for scientific ideas.

Answer: both were fighting and trying to go beyond medieval obscurantism (obscurantism of medieval church and papacy and power-seeking tendencies of papacy and Catholic church). I am not trying to say that medieval thought or philosophy was obscurantist and underdeveloped but from the beginning of 14th century it became increasingly clear that the church and popes practice much more polical power and power-seeking strategies and do not do so much for the spiritual life of Christian Europe. So from the 14th century onwards there is a strong tendency in Europe to go beyond all this and: 1) to do research on areas that for church was not important (for example: nature, matter, body, individuality, take care of the soul not so much collectivelly but individually, reason and reasoning etc.) This is what Reformation and Enlightenment have in common: - reason, - individuality, - transparency in politics, - individual salvation.

The Enlightenment was a period that lasted from the 17th century until the French Revolution toward the end of the 18th century. It was a period highlighted by the promotion of things like natural rights, property rights, Deism, and a thirst for scientific knowledge.