Early Modern Period

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. It begins with the Renaissance.

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 philophy 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.

The expression "early modern" is often, and incorrectly, used as a substitute for the term Renaissance. However the word "renaissance" is now used in relation to a diverse series of cultural developments which occurred over several hundred years in many different parts of Europe.

See also: Early modern Britain, Early modern warfare

See also periodization.