The European Enlightenment allowed Western Europe to shed off the burdens and superstitions of medieval, feudalistic Europe, while retaining the idea of European prestige over other nations.
Prior the Enlightenment, Europeans often lived in superstitious, irrational societies based on authority over others by the higher institutions. However, Europeans thought of themselves as morally superior to other nations based on their adherence to Christianity, as evident by the Crusades and Reconquista, as examples. After the discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus, European colonial dominance emerged in the 16th century, allowing Europeans to be even more elevated over the rest of the world. This continued into the modern day, even after decolonization of the middle 20th century. In between all of these events was the Enlightenment. The Enlightenment allowed Europeans to be free from the burdens of feudalism and superstition, as well as paving the way for the scientific revolution, capitalism and in the case of France, republics and democracy. The combination of moral superiority, new lands, scientific advancement, and desire to build large
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This can be negated by the obvious fact that John Locke was in the minority, and this did NOT prevent slavery, assimilation, and dominance over other peoples. Certain factions of historical academia also argue that the Enlightenment decreased the power of the institutions, such as the church, Christianity as a whole, and monarchies. Once again, the futile argument is negated for the same reason as the previous. Those who criticized the aforementioned institutions, such as Voltaire, were in the loud minority, and the majority of colonial powers, such as Spain, Britain, and Portugual are reknown for their attempts to assimilate and Christianize their colonial subjects, from the Aztecs to Africans.