Why is the enlightment considered a turning point in the world history

The Enlightenment is often considered a turning point in world history because philosophers and thinkers of this time period had an enormous impact on the creation of knowledge and information for the centuries that followed this period. Also the ideas of the Enlightenment had an enormous impact on governments and political movements specifically in regards to ideas such as human rights, natural rights, and also democratic governance. 

Both the han and the roman empire decline as a result of social unrest during their collapse.