What was the Enlightenment and how did it influence the rise of Democratic ideas?

What was the Enlightenment? The Enlightenment is the period in history of western thought and culture stretching from around the mid-decades of the seventeenth century through the eighteenth century. How did it influence the rise of Democratic ideas? 1. Natural Rights 2. The Separation of Powers 3. The Greatest Good 4. The Will of The People 5. Separation of Church and State