Early Modern Trends

The Early Modern Period

Expanding the world's horizons, but not its freedoms...

1450

Land-based empires expand the authority of absolute monarchies

Rulers broke their dependence on the help of upper class nobles by creating militaries and bureaucracies directly under their control- this gave them absolute power.

Maritime empires explore the world, initiating the Columbian Exchange

Beginning with Columbus' journeys across the Atlantic, a biological exchange occurred that increased populations in the East while decimating populations in the West.

Europe blossoms during the Renaissance, but splits during the Reformation

The Renaissance's explosion of learning led to questions about the dominance of the Catholic Church, which caused the Protestant Reformation; however, the Scientific Revolution conflicted with the new views on Christianity.

Maritime empires dominate global trade but not land-based empires

First Portugal and Spain, then later the British and Dutch, established colonies overseas that helped them dominate global transoceanic trade; joint stock companies were especially efficient in doing this.

Societies across the world restructured by a variety of factors

While nobles lost power, merchants gained wealth and status. In the Americas, Europeans replaced indigenous peoples and destablized African societies due to slavery.

1750

While the staffing of imperial militaries and bureaucracies gave lower classes new opportunities, they were still saddled with paying the majority of taxes, which is going to be a key factor in the coming revolutions...