An investigation into the cultural impacts of the Enlightenment would most likely conclude that the Enlightenment led to the rise of new political structures and governments.
The Enlightenment emphasized reason, individualism, and empirical evidence, challenging traditional authority and promoting ideas such as democracy, republicanism, and the separation of powers. This intellectual movement contributed to significant political changes, including revolutions in America and France, and the questioning of absolute monarchies. The period fostered discussions about human rights and social contracts, fundamentally altering governance and cultural norms.
The other options—expansion of monarchs' power, favoring traditional ideas over empirical observations, and increasing the authority of the Catholic Church—are generally contrary to the primary influences and outcomes associated with Enlightenment thought.