Which of the following was a significant influence on the development of Enlightenment political thought?

The rise of empirical science significantly influenced the development of Enlightenment political thought primarily because Enlightenment thinkers emphasized reason, observation, and evidence as the foundations for knowledge and societal progress. The scientific revolution that preceded the Enlightenment demonstrated the power of reason and empirical inquiry in understanding the natural world, leading thinkers to apply similar principles to the study of politics and society.

Enlightenment philosophers such as John Locke, Voltaire, and Rousseau sought to ground their ideas about government, rights, and individual liberty in rational analysis rather than tradition or religious doctrine. This shift allowed for new concepts about governance, such as social contracts and the separation of powers, which were informed by a systematic, scientific approach to human behavior and society.

Other influences, while important, do not have the same direct link to the foundational ideas of Enlightenment political thought. The Industrial Revolution, for example, impacted economic structures and social conditions but was more of a consequence of Enlightenment thought than a direct influence on its foundational principles. The Protestant Reformation contributed to a questioning of authority but didn't focus specifically on the political structures that the Enlightenment aimed to reform. The consolidation of European empires shaped geopolitical landscapes but was less about the philosophical underpinnings of political theory. Thus, the rise