La EDAD MODERNA explicada: características, etapas, acontecimientos, personajes históricos⛵

Summary

La Edad Moderna fue un período histórico que abarcó desde el siglo XV hasta el XVIII, marcada por cambios en Europa y el mundo, incluyendo descubrimientos geográficos, avances científicos, la Reforma Protestante y el surgimiento del capitalismo. Este período también conocido como la Edad de la Descubrimiento, sentó las bases para la globalización y el cambio social, cultural y económico que塑定了 la sociedad moderna.

Takeaways

• 🏰 La Edad Moderna fue un período que abarcó desde el siglo XV hasta el XVIII y se caracterizó por cambios en todos los ámbitos que afectaron a Europa y el resto del mundo.
• 🗺️ La caída de Constantinopla en 1453 y el descubrimiento de América en 1492 son fechas clave que marcan el inicio de esta época, aunque también se considera el inicio con la Reforma Protestante en 1517.
• 🌐 Los historiadores suelen dividir la historia en cuatro períodos: Antiguo, Medio y Moderno, y la Edad Contemporánea, iniciándose esta última con la Revolución Francesa en 1789.
• 🏛️ Durante la Edad Media, Europa estaba dividida en numerosos pequeños territorios con una estructura feudal, pero comenzaron a surgir cambios hacia el final de este período.
• 🌱 La aparición de la burguesía, compuesta por comerciantes y artesanos, fue un factor clave en el desarrollo económico y político de la sociedad moderna.
• 🚢 Los descubrimientos geográficos, como el Age of Discovery, marcan el inicio de la globalización y la expansión de redes comerciales internacionales.
• 🎨 El Renacimiento y el Humanismo dieron lugar a un auge en las artes y la filosofía, rechazando las creencias medievales y poniendo al ser humano en el centro de la sociedad.
• 💡 El Mercantilismo fue la escuela económica dominante en la Edad Moderna, promoviendo la intervención gubernamental en la economía y el aumento del poderío a través de imperios coloniales.
• ⚖️ La Edad Moderna también se caracterizó por el aumento de la intolerancia y los conflictos religiosos, incluyendo la Reforma Protestante y la separación entre la Iglesia y el Estado.
• 💥 A pesar de los avances en pensamiento y cultura, la violencia y las guerras religiosas siguieron siendo una característica de la época.
• 🔄 La Ilustración y la Revolución Industrial tuvieron un impacto significativo en el final de la Edad Moderna, llevándola al cambio hacia la Edad Contemporánea.

Q & A

¿Cuál es la característica principal de la Edad Moderna?

La característica principal de la Edad Moderna es el cambio en todos los ámbitos que ocurrió en Europa y, por extensión, en el resto del mundo, afectando áreas como la científica, política, religiosa y filosófica.

¿Qué eventos importantes marcan el inicio de la Edad Moderna?

El inicio de la Edad Moderna se debate entre varios eventos importantes: la caída de Constantinopla en 1453, el descubrimiento de América en 1492 y el inicio de la Reforma Protestante en 1517.

¿Qué fue la Edad Media y cómo se relaciona con la Edad Moderna?

La Edad Media abarcó desde el siglo V al XV, comenzando con el caer del Imperio Romano de Occidente. La transición entre la Edad Media y la Edad Moderna fue gradual, con aspectos modernos presentes ya en el inicio del siglo XV y características medievales mantenidas durante la Edad Moderna.

¿Cómo se transformó la estructura social y económica durante la Edad Moderna?

Durante la Edad Moderna, se assistió a una transformación en la estructura social y económica, con la aparición de la burguesía, la pérdida de importancia de la agricultura en favor del comercio e industria, y la disminución del poder de la clergy.

¿Qué es el Age of Discovery y cómo contribuyó a la globalización?

El Age of Discovery tuvo lugar entre los siglos XV y XVIII y se caracterizó por las exploraciones y descubrimientos de nuevas tierras y rutas comerciales. Contribuyó a la globalización al establecer nuevas redes comerciales internacionales y creando nuevas necesidades comerciales entre continentes.

¿Qué impacto tuvo el Renacimiento en la cultura y el pensamiento de la Edad Moderna?

El Renacimiento fue un movimiento cultural y filosófico que buscó volver a los modelos de la Antigüedad Clásica y promovió el estudio de las humanidades. Esto representó un cambio de ideales y progreso en la Edad Moderna y el anhelo por la clasicidad renacentista.

¿Qué es el mercantilismo y cómo influyó en la economía de la Edad Moderna?

El mercantilismo fue la escuela económica dominante en la Edad Moderna y llevó a la intervención y control gubernamental sobre la economía. Fue caracterizado por la creación de grandes redes de comercio internacional y el aumento del poderío de las naciones mediante el colonialismo.

¿Cómo se desarrolló la geopolítica durante la Edad Moderna?

La Edad Moderna se caracterizó por grandes descubrimientos geográficos y la expansión de redes comerciales y políticas en América, África y Asia. También se desarrollaron grandes imperios con importantes posesiones coloniales, como los españoles y portugueses, y luego los británicos y neerlandeses.

¿Qué rol jugó la Reforma Protestante en la Edad Moderna?

La Reforma Protestante, iniciada por Martin Luther, llevó al surgimiento de nuevas ramas del cristianismo fuera de la esfera de poder del papato romano. Dividió a los europeos en protestantes y católicos, aumentando la intolerancia y provocando varios guerras religiosas.

¿Cómo se definió la separación entre la Iglesia y el Estado durante la Edad Moderna?

La Edad Moderna marcó el inicio de la separación entre la Iglesia y el Estado, con las antiguas coronas evolucionando en naciones-estado con leyes y códigos morales políticos y no religiosos, y la creación de gobiernos basados en la razón en lugar de en el dogmatismo religioso.

¿Qué fueron las principales características artísticas de la Edad Moderna?

La Edad Moderna vio el crecimiento de las artes con la aparición de movimientos artísticos como el Renacimiento, el Barroco y el Rococó. Estos estilos influyeron no solo en la arquitectura, escultura y pintura, sino también en el teatro, la literatura y la música, rechazando las motivaciones medievales y optando por obras que reflejaban la fe en el ser humano.

¿Cómo se dividen los diferentes estadios de la Edad Moderna según los historiadores anglosajones?

Los historiadores anglosajones suelen dividir la Edad Moderna en dos etapas: la Alta Edad Moderna, que duró hasta la Paz de Westfalia en 1648, y la Baja Edad Moderna, que abarca hasta la Revolución hacia finales del siglo XVIII.

Outlines

00:00

🌐 La Edad Moderna y sus inicios

La Edad Moderna abarcó desde el siglo XV hasta el XVIII y se caracterizó por cambios en todos los ámbitos que afectaron a Europa y el mundo. La transición de la Edad Media a la Moderna no fue clara, ya que algunos historiadores sitúan el inicio en 1453, con la caída de Constantinopla, mientras que otros en 1492, con el descubrimiento de América. La Ilustración, el Renacimiento y la Reforma Protestante fueron algunos de los eventos más importantes de este período. Además, la exploración de nuevos territorios y los avances tecnológicos marcaron un antes y un después en la sociedad mundial.

05:04

🏰 Transformaciones socioeconómicas y culturales

Durante la Edad Moderna, la estructura feudal comenzó a debilitarse, mientras que el surgimiento de la burguesía y el aumento del poder de los reyes conllevaron cambios significativos en la sociedad y la economía. La importancia comercial y industrial creció, y con ella, el surgimiento del capitalismo. La globalización se inició con el Age of Discovery, lo que llevó a la colonización y a un aumento en el comercio internacional. Además, el Renacimiento y el Humanismo pusieron al ser humano en el centro del universo, desafiando los dogmas religiosos y promoviendo un cambio en la educación y la cultura.

10:09

💡 Mercantilismo y exploraciones geográficas

El mercantilismo se convirtió en la escuela económica dominante en la Edad Moderna, promoviendo la intervención gubernamental en la economía y la creación de grandes redes comerciales internacionales. Las exploraciones geográficas扩大了 las redes comerciales y permitieron el establecimiento de colonias, lo que a su vez generó nuevas necesidades comerciales y un aumento en la importancia de las potencias coloniales como España, Portugal, Gran Bretaña y los Países Bajos. Este período también se caracterizó por el fortalecimiento de los estados modernos y la centralización del poder bajo monarquías absolutas.

15:12

🏛️ Cambios en la economía, la sociedad y la religión

La economía de la Edad Moderna se vio influenciada por el desarrollo del capitalismo, el descubrimiento de nuevos territorios y los avances científicos y comerciales. El mercantilismo se convirtió en un sistema económico característico, aunque la pobreza y la desigualdad persistieron. El auge de la burguesía desempeñó un papel fundamental en las revoluciones que marcarían el final de este período histórico. Religiosamente, la Reforma Protestante generó un división en el cristianismo y aumento la intolerancia, mientras que la separación entre Iglesia y Estado comenzó a tomar forma. Los filósofos y pensadores de la época pusieron al ser humano en el centro de la sociedad, dando lugar a corrientes de pensamiento como el humanismo y el racionalismo, y eventualmente a la Ilustración.

20:12

🎨 El florecimiento de las artes y la violencia

La Edad Moderna vio el auge de las artes, con movimientos como el Renacimiento, el barroco y el rococó, que influyeron en la arquitectura, la escultura, la pintura, el teatro, la literatura y la música. Estos movimientos artísticos rechazaban las motivaciones medievales y buscaban reflejar la fe en el ser humano. Sin embargo, este período también fue testigo de episodios violentos, como guerras religiosas y persecución de minorías. La Edad Moderna se dividió en dos etapas: la Alta Edad Moderna hasta la Paz de Westfalia en 1648 y la Baja Edad Moderna hasta la Revolución, marcando el fin de este período y el inicio de la Edad Contemporánea con la Revolución Francesa y la Declaración de los Derechos del Hombre.

Keywords

💡La Edad Moderna

Período de la historia humana que abarca desde el siglo XV hasta el siglo XVIII. Este período es crucial para entender los cambios en Europa y el resto del mundo en áreas como la ciencia, la política, la religión y la filosofía. En el video, se menciona que la Edad Moderna se caracteriza por los cambios en todos los ámbitos que dieron forma a la sociedad de la época, incluyendo la aparición de los primeros estados modernos y la exploración de nuevos territorios.

💡La Edad Media

Período histórico que se extiende desde el siglo V hasta el siglo XV, comenzando con el colapso del Imperio Romano de Occidente. La Edad Media se caracterizó por una estructura feudal, con nobles y clérigos dominando las tierras y a los campesinos. Sin embargo, hacia finales de esta era, se vislumbraron cambios que llevaron al surgimiento de la Edad Moderna, como la consolidación de los estados y la aparición de la burguesía.

💡La Revolución Protestante

Movimiento religioso iniciado en el siglo XVI por Martin Luther, que desafió la autoridad de la Iglesia Católica y llevó a la aparición de nuevas ramas del cristianismo. La Revolución Protestante representó un cambio significativo en la sociedad y la política de la Edad Moderna, y contribuyó a la separación entre la Iglesia y el Estado.

💡La Ilustración

Movimiento intelectual y filosófico que se desarrolló a lo largo de la Edad Moderna, particularmente en el siglo XVIII, y que puso el énfasis en la razón y la libertad sobre la obediencia ciega a la autoridad y los dogmas religiosos. La Ilustración fue fundamental para el surgimiento de ideas democráticas y la promulgación de la Declaración de los Derechos del Hombre, marcando el fin de la Edad Moderna y el comienzo de la Edad Contemporánea.

💡La Revolución Industrial

Transformación económica y social que ocurrió a finales del siglo XVIII y principios del XIX, marcada por la introducción de máquinas y tecnologías en la producción. La Revolución Industrial cambió drásticamente la forma en que se producía y se trabajaba, dando lugar al surgimiento de una clase trabajadora y un auge del capitalismo.

💡Mercantilismo

Escuela económica dominante durante la Edad Moderna que promovió la acumulación de riqueza a través del comercio y la creación de imperios coloniales. El mercantilismo fomentó la competencia entre naciones y la intervención gubernamental en la economía, con el objetivo de acumular metales preciosos y recursos escasos.

💡Humanismo Renacentista

Corriente intelectual, filosófica y cultural que se originó en Italia y se extendió por Europa occidental durante los siglos XIV, XV y XVI. El humanismo renacentista buscó revivir los modelos de la Antigüedad Clásica y se centró en el estudio de las artes humanitarias, promoviendo la expresión eloquente y clara, así como la participación cívica.

💡La Globalización

Proceso histórico que comenzó en la Edad Moderna y que se caracteriza por la expansión de las redes comerciales, culturales y políticas a nivel mundial. La globalización se intensificó con el Age of Discovery (la Edad de la Exploración) y el establecimiento de vínculos comerciales entre continentes, lo que llevó a la colonización y a cambios significativos en el comercio y la cultura.

💡La Reforma Protestante

Movimiento religioso encabezado por Martin Luther que se opuso a la corrupción de la Iglesia Católica y propuso reformas que llevaron a la creación de denominaciones cristianas protestantes. La Reforma Protestante tuvo un impacto significativo en la sociedad y la política de la Edad Moderna, contribuyendo a la separación entre la Iglesia y el Estado y al surgimiento de nuevas formas de cristianismo.

💡Los Estados Modernos

Formas de gobierno que emergieron durante la Edad Moderna, caracterizados por la centralización del poder y la creación de monarquías absolutas. Los estados modernos se desarrollaron a medida que los reyes aumentaban su autoridad a expensas de la nobleza y la clérigo, lo que llevó a la consolidación de gobernantes con poderes más fuertes y la aparición de una burguesía influyente.

💡La Época de las Exploraciones

Período que abarca desde el siglo XV hasta el siglo XVIII, durante el cual se realizaron expediciones y descubrimientos de nuevos territorios y continentes. La Época de las Exploraciones fue un momento crucial para la globalización y el establecimiento de vínculos comerciales y culturales entre diferentes partes del mundo, y también llevó a la colonización y el establecimiento de imperios coloniales.

💡La Sociedad de Clases

Estructura social basada en la división de la población en diferentes niveles o clases, como la nobleza, la clérigo, los campesinos y la burguesía. Durante la Edad Moderna, la sociedad de clases se transformó, con la nobleza y la clérigo perdiendo influencia y la burguesía adquiriendo poder económico y político.

Highlights

The Modern Age was a period from the 15th to the 18th century, marking a transition from the Middle Ages.

The fall of Constantinople in 1453 is often cited as the beginning of the Modern Age, though some historians argue for the discovery of America in 1492 or the Protestant Reformation in 1517.

The French Revolution in 1789 is considered the turning point that marked the end of the Modern Age and the beginning of the Contemporary Age.

The Modern Age was characterized by significant changes in Europe that affected the scientific, political, religious, and philosophical spheres.

Important events of the Modern Age include the European discoveries of new lands, technological advances from the scientific revolution, and the Protestant Reformation.

The concept of the Modern Age emerged in the 17th century, with the division of history into Ancient, Middle, and Modern Ages by German historian Christopher Cellarius.

The transition from the Middle Ages to the Modern Age was gradual, with some modern aspects present in the early 15th century and medieval features maintained during the Modern Age.

The shift from feudalism to states involved the decline of feudal lords' power and the rise of absolutist states governed by monarchs.

Social, economic, and cultural changes during the Modern Age included the rise of the bourgeoisie, the decline of the countryside in favor of cities, and the weakening of religious dogmas.

The Age of Discovery and the colonization of new lands by European powers led to significant changes in trade, culture, and the global economy.

The Renaissance marked a return to classical models, promoting human-centered thought and the study of humanities.

Mercantilism, the dominant economic school of the Modern Age, led to increased government intervention and control over the economy.

The Modern Age was accompanied by geographical discoveries that expanded commercial and political networks to America, Africa, and Asia.

The economy of the Modern Age saw the development of capitalism, with mercantilism emerging as a key economic system.

The Protestant Reformation in the 16th century led to a division within Christianity and the rise of new branches of the religion.

The Modern Age saw a shift in philosophy and thought, with humanism and rationalism leading to the Enlightenment and the Declaration of Human Rights.

Artistic movements like the Renaissance, baroque, and rococo flourished during the Modern Age, reflecting a human-centered approach to art.

Despite its focus on human-centered progress, the Modern Age also saw violent episodes such as political and religious wars and persecution of minorities.

The 15th century marked the halfway point between the Middle Ages and the Modern Age, with the decline of feudalism and the rise of capitalism and absolutist states.

The 16th century was defined by the Protestant Reformation and the establishment of new trade routes, leading to economic changes like mercantilism.

The 17th century was a period of crisis for Europe, with poor harvests, the plague, and the rise of absolutist monarchies like France and England.

The 18th century saw the Enlightenment, which challenged absolutism and led to significant political, social, and economic changes, including the Industrial Revolution.

Transcripts

The Modern Age was a period in the history of mankind from the

fifteenth to the eighteenth century. Historians point to the fall of Constantinople,

in 1453, as the passage from the previous period, the Middle Ages, to the new, although there is also a

historiographic current that delays that beginning until the discovery of America, in 1492.

More consensus exists to indicate its final. Although, initially, only three stages were considered

to divide the story; Ancient, Middle and Modern Ages, later a new one was added, the

Contemporary Age, being the French Revolution, in 1789, the event indicated as a turning point.

The main characteristic of the Modern Age, which encompasses almost all the others, is the

changes in all areas that occurred in Europe and, by extension, in the rest of the world.

From the scientific to the political world, passing through religion or philosophy,

they were affected by these changes, which would end up shaping the society of the time.

Among the most important events that took place during this stage

are the discoveries of new lands by Europeans,

the great technological advances caused by the scientific revolution or the Protestant Reformation.

Home The concept of the Modern Age

appeared in the 17th century; when Christopher Cellarius, a German historian, proposed

dividing history into three different ages: Ancient Age, Middle Age and Modern Age.

The beginning of the Modern Age is the subject of discussion among experts. Most tend

to mark it at the fall of Constantinople in 1543, which brought the Eastern Roman Empire to an end.

Other currents, on the other hand, prefer to place that beginning in 1492, the date of the discovery

of America. Finally, another, smaller group postpones the date to 1517,

when Luther began the Protestant Reformation. Regarding the geographical area, the Modern Age

was developed, almost entirely, in Europe. However, it is a time when

important discoveries of new lands were made, so its influence reached

continents such as America or Asia. Middle Ages

The historical period before the Modern Age was the Middle Ages. This spanned

from the 5th to the 15th century, beginning with the fall of the Western Roman Empire.

However, the transition from one age to another developed gradually. Thus,

at the beginning of the fifteenth century, some modern aspects were already present. Likewise,

during the Modern Age some clearly medieval features were still maintained.

From feudalism to states During the later part of the Middle Ages,

Europe was divided among a large number of small territories.

It was a clearly feudal structure, with nobles dominating those lands.

However, throughout the Middle Ages it could already be glimpsed that this system

was evolving. The feudal lords were losing power,

while that of the kings was reinforced. At the same time, a feeling of

national belonging began to appear among its inhabitants. At the same time, a new social class appeared,

the bourgeoisie. This, made up of merchants and artisans, gained in influence,

first economically and, later, politically. All this process culminated with the arrival of

the Modern Age, with the consolidation of the absolutist states against the feudal ones.

Social, economic and cultural changes Despite the importance of

political changes, many authors consider that the most radical transformations occurred

in the social, cultural and economic spheres. During the Middle Ages, as has been pointed out,

European society was structured following feudal canons. The king at the top,

the nobles and the clergy in second place, and lastly the peasants,

many tied to the land and to their lords. However, already during the last medieval stage,

the countryside lost importance compared to the city, something that favored the

appearance of the bourgeoisie. This was also reflected in the economy, with agriculture

losing some of its importance to activities such as commerce or industry.

Another sector that had begun to lose some influence during the late Middle Ages

was the clergy. Although the Catholic Church still held much power, the rise of the

Renaissance in the fourteenth century began to place the human being at the center of the universe,

weakening religious dogmas. Taking of Constantinople

Most historians place the passage from the Middle Ages to the Modern Age

in the taking of Constantinople, in 1453. With the conquest of that city by the Turks,

the history of the Byzantine Empire, also called the Roman Empire, ended. Eastern Roman.

That empire had been showing signs of decline since the end of the 14th century. Despite

attempts by the West to help, pressure from the Ottomans made its downfall inevitable.

On the other hand, there are some authors who point to the beginning of the Modern Age at the

arrival of Christopher Columbus to the American continent, in 1492.

Main characteristics of the Modern Age The great transformations in all areas

of society were the main characteristic of the Modern age. Thus, the first

modern States appeared on the European continent, which led to the centralization of power

and the formation of absolute monarchies. On the other hand,

parts of the world hitherto unknown to Europeans were discovered, explored and colonized during this time

. America was the clearest exponent of these events, although Asia and Africa

also began to be places of interest for Europe to profit economically.

Finally, there was a rupture within Christianity, the most stable and

important center of power for centuries. Economically, capitalist society made its appearance,

with a significant growth in trade and industry.

Globalization The

Age of Discovery (also known as the Age of Exploration) has been mentioned as one of the

possible starting points of the Modern Age. In the same way, this era is also recognized

as the beginning of globalization, one of the main characteristics of the Modern Age.

The Age of Discovery took place between the 15th and 18th centuries, with the main

points of reference being the arrival of Christopher Columbus in America (1492) and the

Portuguese discoveries of the Madeira and Azores archipelagos, the African coast and the discovery

of the maritime route of India in 1498. These voyages and discoveries of new countries,

territories and continents

whose existence was not known or certain, represented an important change in various areas

such as trade, culture, religion , etc. An important consequence of the discoveries

is found in colonization, carried out especially by Spain and Portugal first,

and later by Great Britain and the Netherlands. At the same time, I also created a new

commercial need between continents. For example, spices became indispensable in

European diets and cinnamon or pepper became a necessity.

This gastronomic exchange forced the development of new conservation techniques due to the

long trips around the world. Renaissance Humanism

Humanism was a European intellectual, philosophical, and cultural movement that began in

Italy and then spread throughout Western Europe between the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries.

This sought to return to the models of Classical Antiquity and Greco-Roman humanism.

This movement arose as a response against the doctrine of utilitarianism. Humanists sought

to create citizens who were capable of expressing themselves, orally and in writing, with eloquence and

clarity, but still engaging in the civic life of their communities and persuading

others to take virtuous and prudent actions. To fulfill this ideal, he made use of the study

of the "Studia humanitatis", which we know today as the humanities, among these: grammar,

rhetoric, history, poetry and moral philosophy. The "Studia humanitatis" excluded

logic from their study, and made poetry (a sequel to grammar and rhetoric)

the most important area of ​​study. This emphasis on the study of poetry

and the quality of oral and written expression, above logic and practicality,

represents an illustration of the ideals of change and progress of the Modern Age and the longing

for the classical of the Renaissance. Mercantilism

Mercantilism was the dominant economic school in the Modern Age,

from the 16th to the 18th century. It brought with it the first signs of

significant government intervention and control over the economy. The discovery of spices, silk,

and other rare products in Europe created new needs and opportunities for trade. Being

able to be satisfied during the Age of Discovery, the European powers created

huge new networks of international trade. Nations also found new sources of

wealth, and new economic theories and practices were created to deal with them.

Due to the national interest in competing, nations sought to increase their power based

on colonial empires. Additionally, this commercial revolution represented

a growth of interests other than manufacturing, such as banking and investment.

Geography and politics The Modern Age was accompanied

by great geographical discoveries. The arrival of Columbus in America meant that

commercial and political networks were expanded, something that also happened in Africa and Asia.

During this time, in addition, great empires were developed, with important

colonial possessions. In the first part of the Modern Age, the Spanish and Portuguese empires stand out. Starting

in the 17th century, it was the British and the Dutch who became more powerful.

Within the European continent, modern states emerged, governed by an

absolute monarchy with religious justification. Another characteristic associated with the above was the

continuous wars between different countries. The most important was the Thirty Years' War.

Economy and society The economy of the Modern Age was

marked by the development of capitalism. The discoveries of new lands and

scientific and commercial advances caused capital to become increasingly important.

This made mercantilism appear, a characteristic system during the 17th century.

Despite this economic change, much of society did not have enough to

survive. This, together with the Industrial Revolution, ideological changes and other

factors, were the cause of the revolutions that would take place at the end of this historical stage.

Another effect of the change in the economic system was the advance and strengthening

of the bourgeoisie. This played a fundamental role in the aforementioned revolutions. The bourgeoisie

had gradually become a very important economic force, without this translating into the

acquisition of political power. Religion

One of the events that marked the Modern Age was the rupture that occurred

in the Western Christian world. The Protestant Reformation, which occurred in the sixteenth century, led

to the appearance of new branches of Christianity, outside the sphere of power of the papacy of Rome.

It was Martin Luther who gave a vision of the Catholic religion much more in line with the ideals

of the Modern Age. Having pointed out, when he refused to submit to the church, that the only

source of authority was the holy scriptures. This religiously divided Europeans

into two parts. The Protestants had more influence in the Nordic and Anglo-

Saxon countries, without forgetting Central Europe. The Catholics, for their part, were more powerful

in the south of the continent. The most immediate consequence was the increase in intolerance,

including several wars of religion. Another very important characteristic element of the Modern Age

was the beginning of the separation between the Church and the State. The ancient

kingdoms evolved into nation-states, with

strictly political and non-religious laws and moral codes. Philosophy and thought

Another of the fundamental characteristics of the Modern Age was the change in the way of

seeing the world. The philosophers and thinkers of this time stopped following the religious dogmas so

present in the Middle Ages and began to place the human being as the central element of society.

In this way, different currents of thought appeared, such as

humanism or rationalism. All of these led to the Enlightenment, a

philosophy that would give rise to the Declaration of Human Rights and other social advances.

In this period, in addition, philosophy was closely related to science. Scientists

also began their own change, based on empirical research and discussing some

precepts marked by religion. Art

The growth of the arts during the Modern Age was one of the most

striking features of the period. A large number of artistic movements appeared,

beginning with the recovery of classicism carried out by the Renaissance. Besides,

other currents stood out, such as the baroque and the rococo. The influence of these styles reached not

only architecture, sculpture or painting, but also theater,

literature and music. In general, they all rejected the old medieval motivations

and opted for the execution of works that reflected faith in the human being.

Violence The Modern Age,

as has been pointed out, represented a change that placed the human being at

the center of society. However, paradoxically, it was also a period in which

violent episodes took place, with political and religious wars and persecution of minorities.

Stages Anglo-Saxon historians

usually divide the Modern Age into two different stages. The first, called High Modern Age,

would last until the Peace of Westphalia, in 1648, which put an end to the Thirty Years' War.

The second, for its part, is called the Low Modern Age, and would cover until the

Revolution towards the end of the 18th century. However, this division is merely

theoretical. Actually, most experts, outside the Anglo-Saxon world, usually mark the

stages by century. XV century

The XV century is halfway between the Middle Ages and the Modern Age. Its beginnings were marked

by the end of the plague epidemic. The feudal society began to crumble due to a serious

economic crisis and the bourgeoisie was consolidated as a social class. The bourgeoisie were the ones who

started the transition to capitalism. On the other hand, the kings were accumulating more

power at the expense of the nobility and the clergy. This caused a change in the

European political structure, with the emergence of stronger states, with

absolutist governments. Those monarchies justify their powers through religion,

declaring that the real power emanates from God. Although the first nationalist sentiments appeared in this century

, there were some countries that failed to unify politically. The

two most important were Italy and Germany. The fifteenth century, moreover, is considered the

century of inventions and explorations. The Italian Renaissance revolutionized

art in many aspects, which was accompanied by a philosophical change.

The 16th century The 16th century was

mainly marked by two factors: the Reformation and the new trade routes.

The first was a reform that affected the Christian religion in Western Europe. It was

initiated by Martin Luther, who intended to protest the corruption of the Church,

as well as the use of strategies to increase its wealth that he considered

inappropriate, such as indulgences. Luther obtained great support in several countries,

beginning the Protestant Reformation. This would end up dividing Christianity in two.

The Catholic Church tried to fight the Reformation. To do this,

the Council of Trent decreed a series of measures, beginning the counter-reformation,

On the other hand, the exploitation of the colonies favored the appearance of an

economic theory called mercantilism. This established that it was more beneficial for

countries to increase the import of goods and reduce exports.

In general terms, it was about protecting local production from foreign competition.

In addition, it reinforced the idea of ​​accumulation of wealth, precious metals and valuable resources.

17th century The 17th century had very negative aspects for

Europe. Harvests were poor for years due to weather and soil deterioration.

This, together with the appearance of the plague, caused a great increase in mortality and times of famine.

Spanish power began to crumble, in part due to the lower performance

of metal exploitation in its American colonies. France and England took

over as great continental powers. Likewise, the English, with a large fleet,

began to trade around the world. On the other hand, feudal society entered

its last stage of crisis, with feudal lords unable to contain

increasingly impoverished peasants. The system that replaced feudalism was

the absolute monarchy. The best exponent was in France, with the figure of Louis

XIV and his well-known phrase “I am the State”. Similarly, the continent was immersed

in the 30-year War, caused by religious issues. The conflict ended

with the signing of the Peace of Westphalia and the destruction of much of Germany.

18th century This century was characterized by

the appearance of a school of thought that would change politics, society and the economy:

the Enlightenment. It is a philosophy that perfectly sums up the Modern Age. Its

authors affirm that all human beings are born equal, support the primacy of

reason and freedom over dogmatism. In the political sphere, the Enlightenment was

opposed to absolutism, since this was based on the primacy of the king over the rest of the

citizens. The response of the monarchs was, in some countries, to tweak the system a bit,

giving birth to the so-called enlightened despotism. However, this was not enough to stop

the effects of the Enlightenment. Thus, in the United States, after achieving independence, they enacted

a Constitution based on enlightened principles. Somewhat later, the French Revolution

and the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizens would mark the end of the Modern Age

and the entrance into the Contemporary Age. Within the economic sphere

another great transformation took place. The Industrial Revolution changed the way of producing,

introduced many new inventions and led to the emergence of the labor movement.