Whats a topic on a concept which has influenced early modern European history is that of Individualism?

The concept of individualism stems from the formation of the Greek empire and its founding principals through philosphies such as democracy. This concept gave people a level of free thought and will from Plato"s republic.The renaisance was interested in the ideas of science and art,the protestant movement shifted its view away from Rome as the supreme authority with religious ideals. The Age of enlightenment shifted its philosphies towards the logic & science of facts,this challenged the religious ideals of the church because for once philosphers could prove & disprove that god didnt really exist.
This opened up dialogue for the masses to really think for themselves,taken from Decartes Cognito Ergo sum i think therefore i am,in a way this forging of ideas spelled a tsumani for religion later on.
People could question the churches ideals as they really could think for themselves,their thoughts werent governed by a higher power as first thought ?
Religion in a sense was the manifestaion of men in authority used to control the masses,as Karl Marx later reiterated that religion was the opium of the people. science in a way later during the 19th century gave greater autonomy from the cghurch when Charles Darwin question it through his thesis "The origins of life",which essentially proved that man had originated from Africa through his studies in S.America.The church from now would never really gain the power as they previously held over the masses,with Nietszche"s  statement God is dead and his superman theories man was fianlly justifiably the ruler of his own universe, thus giving him the rightfull ploy to be an individual