Modern Age: Transformations, Discoveries, and Key Events

The Modern Age

A New Historical Period

The Modern Age (15th-18th centuries) is generally considered to have begun with the capture of Constantinople by the Turks in 1453 or with the discovery of America in 1492, and it ended with the French Revolution in 1789.

The Modern Age is divided into several sub-periods:

* 16th century: Renaissance period * 17th century: Baroque period * 18th century: Enlightenment and Absolutism

Changes in the 15th and 16th Centuries

From the mid-15th century to the 16th century, the international landscape underwent significant changes due to these events:

* The disappearance of the Byzantine Empire: Following the capture of Constantinople by the Turks in 1453, Western Christianity felt increasingly under threat from the Muslim World. * The geographical discoveries made by the Portuguese and Castilians in Africa, America, and Asia extended the frontiers of the world known to Europeans. Countries like Spain and Portugal established extensive colonial empires, stimulating world trade. * The struggle for European hegemony pitted major states against one another; during the 16th century, the Spanish state imposed its dominance.

The feudal system entered a period of crisis. The feudal kingdoms were replaced by the modern State and authoritarian monarchies. The feudal economy gave way to commercial capitalism, which was based on the accumulation of large amounts of capital through trade and colonization.

Western religious unity collapsed. This rupture was prompted by the Protestant Reformation and gave rise to a number of serious armed conflicts known as the ‘wars of religion.’

Medieval culture was replaced by a new world view, Humanism, which focused on the human being, giving rise to a new artistic style: the Renaissance.

The Discoveries: Causes Behind the Process

The extension of European knowledge of the world is due to a range of causes.

Political and Economic Causes

* Political causes: Christian kingdoms continued their expansion by taking control of new territories. For the monarchs, the conquest was an opportunity to acquire gold and silver and demonstrate their power. * Economic causes: The fall of Constantinople to the Turks closed the trade route that brought supplies of spices from Asia. To bring them to Europe, it was necessary to find a new route. There was also interest in finding a new sea route.

Scientific and Technical Causes

* Scientific causes: Books argued that the Earth was round and much smaller. As a result, curious sailors considered it feasible to reach India or China by sailing westwards. * Technical causes: Sea navigation improved thanks to the widespread use of the compass and the improvement of the astrolabe. The development of cartography provided new world maps. In southern Spain and Portugal, new types of ships were built, such as the caravel and carrack.

Religious and Ideological Causes

* Religious causes: The peninsular kingdoms maintained their desire to fight against the infidel. There was also interest in spreading Christianity to new lands. * Ideological causes: The cultural attitude of the era encouraged a thirst for adventure.