The Beginning of the Modern Age

The Beginning of the Modern Age

Introduction

In the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, Western Europe underwent dramatic changes in the political, social, cultural, religious and economic spheres. The Italian humanist Petrarch’s Canzoniere , German theologian Martin Luther’s Ninety-five theses and Portugal Prince Henry’s Navigation School heralded the dawn of the modern era. The Holy Roman Empire and the Roman Church became weak and discredited. In their place nation states, new Churches that emphasized individual faith, and a commercial revolution based on mercantilism emerged. The modern era was characterized by freedom of thought, individualism, rationalism, and economic and scientific progress. In this lesson let us look at the changes ushered in by the Renaissance, Reformation and Geographical Discoveries.