Master this deck with 20 terms through effective study methods.
Trace the shift from medieval to modern: Renaissance humanism, the Reformation, and the Scientific Revolution feed the Enlightenment while printing accelerates ideas. Follow gunpowder empires (Ottoman...
The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement in the 17th and 18th centuries that emphasized reason, individualism, and skepticism of traditional authority. Key thinkers included John Locke, who advocated for natural rights and government by consent, and Immanuel Kant, who emphasized the importance of reason and autonomy.
Johannes Gutenberg's invention of movable type printing in 1440 revolutionized the dissemination of information, allowing for the rapid spread of new ideas, including those of the Enlightenment, the Reformation, and scientific discoveries, thus fostering a more informed public.
The political landscape of early modern Europe was characterized by the rise of absolute monarchies, where kings centralized power, established strong bureaucracies, and maintained large standing armies, exemplified by rulers like Louis XIV of France and Ivan the Terrible of Russia.
The transition from the Middle Ages to the early modern period is marked by significant events such as the fall of Constantinople in 1453, the spread of printing technology, and European voyages of discovery, including Columbus's arrival in the Americas in 1492.
Capitalism began to emerge in the early modern period, characterized by the rise of market economies, trade expansion, and the establishment of chartered companies, which facilitated global trade and the accumulation of wealth, particularly in northern Italian republics and Asian port cities.
The Age of Discovery, beginning in the late 15th century, was a period of extensive exploration and colonization by European powers, leading to significant cultural, material, and biological exchanges between the Old World and the New World, known as the Columbian Exchange.
Mercantilism shaped European colonial policies by promoting one-sided trade practices that favored the mother country, leading to the establishment of colonies that provided raw materials and markets for finished goods, ultimately benefiting the colonial powers economically.
The Dutch East India Company, established in 1602, is often regarded as the first multinational corporation, playing a crucial role in the global trade network by establishing trade routes and monopolizing the spice trade, significantly impacting European economies.
The Columbian Exchange had profound effects, including the introduction of new crops and livestock to both hemispheres, the spread of diseases that decimated indigenous populations, and the exchange of cultural practices, fundamentally altering societies on both sides of the Atlantic.
The decline of serfdom in early modern Europe was influenced by economic changes, including the rise of a market economy and the increasing power of centralized states, which led to the gradual emancipation of serfs and the transition to wage labor.
The Great Divergence refers to the period when Western Europe began to experience significant economic growth compared to other regions, driven by factors such as technological advancements, colonial expansion, and the development of capitalist economies.
Ivan the Terrible, crowned in 1547, was the first tsar of Russia, known for centralizing power, expanding Russian territory, and implementing reforms, but also for his brutal reign marked by violence and repression.
Colonialism had devastating impacts on indigenous populations in the Americas, including significant population declines due to disease, displacement from their lands, and cultural disruption as European powers imposed their systems of governance and economy.
Early modern warfare was characterized by the increased size and organization of military forces, the use of gunpowder, and the development of new tactics and technologies, leading to more destructive and large-scale conflicts.
The Protestant Reformation, initiated by figures like Martin Luther in the 16th century, challenged the authority of the Catholic Church, leading to religious conflicts, the rise of Protestant states, and significant political changes as rulers aligned with different religious factions.
Economic motivations for European exploration and colonization included the search for new trade routes, access to valuable resources such as gold and spices, and the desire to expand markets for European goods, driving competition among European powers.
During the early modern period, the Catholic Church's influence waned due to the rise of secularism, the Protestant Reformation, and challenges to its authority, leading to a decline in its power in both public and private spheres.
The rise of centralized bureaucratic states in early modern Europe led to more efficient governance, the standardization of laws and practices, and the consolidation of power in the hands of monarchs, which often resulted in the suppression of local autonomy.
The early modern economic changes led to social consequences such as the rise of a merchant class, shifts in social hierarchies, increased urbanization, and changes in labor practices, including the decline of feudal obligations.
The Treaty of Westphalia, which ended the Thirty Years' War, is significant for establishing the principles of state sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of states, laying the groundwork for the modern international system.