What were the main characteristics of Early Modern Europe?

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        Rebecca Doorbar

What were the main characteristics of Early Modern Europe?

It is crucial to establish what is meant by the ‘early modern’ period to begin with.  Broadly speaking, the 16th century encompasses the bulk of the period, which follows the medieval and precedes the modern.  A period is defined by the Concise Oxford Dictionary as an “indefinite portion of history”.  Periodisation is vital because it simplifies discussion.  However, it is important to avoid elevating the importance of such titles due to the inherent danger of periodisation – excessive reliance on divisions of time may lead to a failure to consider events in their wider context throughout history.

This essay comments on four main areas of early modern Europe.  These are: economics, politics and international affairs, society and religion.  The focus is on change – the named aspects of Europe experienced significant change during the period.  Of course there is a degree of overlap between different categories.

The economy during the 16th century fostered the development of capitalism, due to expanding trade, urbanisation and colonialisation.  Economic advancement consequently produced a larger population, inflation, new industries, trade and advanced technologies.  Population growth, following the devastating effects of the 14th century Black Death, meant less food and land to go round, but stimulated economic growth.  In France, there was a population increase from 12 to 15 million people.  Population growth was due to a number of factors.  The incidence of plague was reduced, and child mortality fell.  However, Europe was still affected by adverse effects of poor harvests, disease and warfare.  

There is a massive difference between the scale of the modern economy and the scale of the early modern period.  The urban economy was closely related to the traditional needs of a rural economy.  Conservative guilds of craftsmen existed, responsible for governing small workshops. At the beginning of the 16th century, loans were very difficult to secure, because the Church viewed the charging of interest as sinful.  Although inflation averaged 2% per annum, it had a noticeable impact on industrial growth.  Because wages lagged behind living costs, a short-term effect was increased profits and consequently the money available for investment grew.  

In 1575 Europe participated in the first global economy, buying Asian silks, spices, porcelain and Persian carpets using South American silver.  Economic change was reflected in the rise of luxuries, such as cupboards, dressers and sideboards able to support gold, silver and pewterware.  By 1560 prosperous peasant homes in Western Europe had windowpanes.

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European expansion and colonialism had a significant impact on the European economy.  Discovery of the Americas meant that countries on the fringe of Western Europe, such as England, Spain, France and Portugal, began to dominate trade. The countries explored included Asia, Africa and the Americas.  Potatoes, tomatoes and maize from America began to change the Europeans’ diet.  In 1503, gold and silver from Mexico and Peru began flooding the continent, which contributed in part to the Price Rise of 1550 onwards.

However, trade was hindered by customs duties, which were not only charged upon entry into a country, ...

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