Who came up with the idea of limited government?

The idea of limited government is often attributed to Enlightenment thinkers, particularly john Locke, whose writings in the 17th century emphasized the protection of individual rights and the notion that government should have constrained powers. Locke's social contract theory argued that governments are legitimate only if they serve the consent of the governed and protect their natural rights. This concept significantly influenced the development of democratic principles and constitutional governments, particularly in the United States.