What events helped lead to the enlightenment?

On the surface, the most apparent cause of the Enlightenment was the Thirty Years' War. This horribly destructive war, which lasted from 1618 to 1648, compelled German writers to pen harsh criticisms regarding the ideas of nationalism and warfare.

d.)   when the us left nato after the end of the cold war and they had to evolve to focus on more humanitarian measures with the smaller budget