Early Modern Europe
The early modern period is a term used by historians to refer to the transitional period in Western Europe (and its later colonies) between the Middle Ages and modern society. The latter is assumed to be characterised by the importance of science, technological progress, secular civic politics and capitalist economics, all monitored by the nation state.
The expression "early modern" is often, and incorrectly, used as a substitute for the term Renaissance. However, the word "renaissance" is used in relation to a diverse series of cultural developments which occurred over several hundred years in many different parts of Europe.
The first documented European voyage to the Americas, by Christopher Columbus in 1492 and Vasco da Gama's voyage to India (1498) were especially significant in this process, as were books of political philosophy such as Machiavelli's The Prince (1513) and Thomas More's Utopia (1515).
Therefore the term "early modern" usually applies to the period from the late 15th to the early 18th Century during which these developments were at a formative stage. However, there is no agreement and some historians argue that the early modern period continued until much later.
See also: Early modern Britain, France under the ancien regime, Early modern warfare
See also periodization.
| History of Europe | |
|---|---|
| Prehistoric Europe | Classical antiquity | Middle Ages | Renaissance | Early Modern Europe | Modern Europe | |
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