Early modern Europe facts for kids

The Early Modern period is a name historians use for a special time in history. It mainly covers Western Europe and its first colonies. This period lasted about 300 years, from the end of the Middle Ages to the start of the Industrial Revolution.

During this time, many big changes happened. Science and new inventions became very important. Governments started to become more like modern countries. A new way of doing business called Capitalism began to grow, especially in places like Genoa, Italy. Another economic idea, mercantilism, also became popular. This period saw the end of old systems like feudalism and serfdom. The power of the Catholic Church also changed a lot.

Some major events during the Early Modern period include the Protestant Reformation, the Thirty Years' War, and the European colonization of the Americas. It was also a time when many people believed in witches, leading to witch hunts.

When Did the Early Modern Period Begin?

The exact start of the Early Modern period isn't super clear. Most historians agree it began in the late 1400s or early 1500s. Here are some important dates that mark the shift from the Middle Ages to the Early Modern era:

• 1447: Johannes Gutenberg invented the first European movable type printing press. This machine completely changed how information was shared. Before this, books were copied by hand.
• 1453: The Ottoman Empire conquered Constantinople. This event marked the end of the Byzantine Empire. Also, the Battle of Castillon ended the Hundred Years' War.
• 1485: In England, Richard III, the last Plantagenet king, died in battle. This ended the medieval civil wars and brought the Tudor monarchy to power with Henry VII.
• 1492: Christopher Columbus made his first voyage to the Americas. This opened up new worlds for Europeans. In Spain, the Reconquista ended, and the Moors were expelled. The Spanish government also expelled the Jews.
• 1494: The French king Charles VIII invaded Italy. This started a series of wars that shaped the Renaissance in Italy.
• 1513: Niccolò Machiavelli wrote The Prince. This book was one of the first to talk about modern politics and how rulers gain and keep power.
• 1517: The Protestant Reformation began. Martin Luther famously posted his ninety-five theses on a church door in Wittenberg, Germany. This challenged the Catholic Church.
• 1545: The Council of Trent began. This meeting was a major response by the Catholic Church to the Reformation.

When Did the Early Modern Period End?

The end of the Early Modern period is also not a single date. It's often linked to the start of the Industrial Revolution in Britain around 1750. Another important end date is the beginning of the French Revolution in 1789. Both of these events dramatically changed Europe.

One of the biggest political changes was the end of serfdom. This meant that many people who were tied to the land became free. Kingdoms also started to become more like modern nation-states. The Protestant Reformation also meant that Christendom (the Christian world) was no longer united under one church. Many kings and rulers used this shift to gain more power over their own lands. For example, many German states and England became Protestant to escape the power of the Pope.

New ideas also emerged during this time. The economic theory of mercantilism was developed. Important books on philosophy and politics were written. These include Machiavelli's The Prince (1513) and Thomas More's Utopia (1515).

Early Modern vs. Renaissance

Sometimes, people use "early modern" and "Renaissance" as if they mean the same thing. But they are different. The "Renaissance" refers to a time of great cultural growth. This happened over several centuries in many parts of Europe, especially in Italy. It was a bridge between the late Middle Ages and the start of the Early Modern period.

The term "early modern" is mostly used for Europe and its overseas empires. However, in Japan, the Edo period (from 1590 to 1868) is also sometimes called the early modern period.

Important Political Powers

During the Early Modern period, several powerful empires and kingdoms shaped the world. These included:

• Ottoman Empire
• Habsburg Empire
• Portugal
• Great Britain
• France
• Early Modern Italy (a collection of states)
• Romania
• Poland
• Hungary

Related pages

• Renaissance

Images for kids

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  Abraham Ortelius: Map of Europe, 1595

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  Europe about 1560, from a 1923 atlas by William Robert Shepherd

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  Henry VIII broke England's ties with the Catholic Church, becoming the head of the English Church.

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  After the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, Europe's borders were largely stable. This map is from 1708 by Herman Moll.

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  The Peace of Westphalia allowed Calvinism to be practiced freely.

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  Elizabeth ushers in Peace and Plenty. A detail from The Family of Henry VIII: An Allegory of the Tudor Succession, around 1572.