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Period: 160 to
Age of Enlightenment
This period saw a significant shift in thinking, emphasising the importance of reason, science, and individuality. Enlightenment intellectuals championed secularism, argued for the separation of church and state, and established the groundwork for modern democratic values. In this age, famous philosophers such as Voltaire, John Locke, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau changed the intellectual landscape, leaving an indelible mark on politics, culture, and society. -
1304
Francesco Petrarca
Francesco Petrarca, whose anglicized name is Petrarch, was born on July 20, 1304, in Arezzo, Tuscany (now Italy). With his family, he moved to Avignon, France, as a child. In France, Petrarch studied law, as his father had wished. However, his passion was for literature, particularly that of ancient Greece and Rome. -
1490
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a vigorous period of European cultural, artistic, political, and economic "rebirth" after the Middle Ages. The Renaissance, which lasted from the 14th to the 17th century, aimed to revive classical philosophy, literature, and art. During this period, some of history's greatest thinkers, authors, statesmen, scientists, and artists flourished, as global discovery opened up new nations and civilizations to European commerce. -
Period: to
Scientific Revolution
The appearance of new information during the Scientific Revolution put into question religious beliefs, moral ideals, and the traditional view of nature. It also put a pressure on established institutions and traditions, forcing new forms of communication and information dissemination. Scientific societies were established to validate new discoveries, while scientific journals were formed to share new information. -
How is the Scientific Revolution connected to the Enlightenment?
The Enlightenment, like the Scientific Revolution, started in Europe. This philosophical movement, which occurred in the 17th and 18th centuries, combined concepts about God, reason, nature, and humanity to create a worldview that praised reason. This emphasis on reason stemmed from the discoveries of famous intellectuals who came before the Enlightenment, such as Nicolaus Copernicus and Galileo in astronomy, René Descartes in philosophy, and Isaac Newton in physics and cosmology. -
Industrial Revolution
Western Europe's rapid population increase in the late 18th century fueled significant economic transformation that lasted long into the nineteenth century. Between 1750 and 1800, the populations of major countries rose by 50 to 100 percent, primarily due to the utilization of new food crops. Population increases of this size necessitated change. Peasant and artisanal children's avenues to inheritance were obstructed by sheer numbers, forcing them to seek new forms of paid labor. -
Imperialism
The goal of imperialism is to acquire resources, often through exploitation and force.
Motives for imperialism include economic, cultural, political, moral, and exploratory control.
Imperialism and colonialism are closely related, however imperialism can exist without colonialism if the invading country does not send settlers.
Imperialism has played a significant part in US history, with consequences for the economy and climate change.