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Early modern Europe

Explorer · ages 7 and underAdapted from Wikipedia
Historic 1507 map that was the first to name 'America' and show the continents separately from Asia.

Early Modern Europe

Early modern Europe was a time in European history from the mid-1400s to the late 1700s. This was when many exciting changes happened! It began with inventions like the moveable type printing and ended around the time of the French Revolution or the start of the Industrial Revolution.

One big change was the first time someone sailed all the way around the Earth. People from Europe traveled to new lands and made maps. They discovered places like the Americas, South America, and far-off parts of Asia. This helped everyone learn about the world.

The 17th century was a time of great discoveries in science. New ideas about how nature works changed the way people thought. Governments grew stronger, and countries began to form into the nations we know today. This time also brought new ways to share ideas and grow economies.

The early modern period included important times like the Renaissance, the Reformation, the Scientific Revolution, and the Enlightenment. During this time, science and technology grew very fast. People started to think of themselves as part of a country, not just a town.

This period began around the late 1400s or early 1500s. Important events include the invention of movable type printing by Johannes Gutenberg, and Christopher Columbus’s voyage to the Americas in 1492. The period ended around the late 1700s, either with the start of the Industrial Revolution or the French Revolution in 1789.

The invention of the printing press helped people share books and ideas. One print shop in Mainz, Germany, started around 1440. The movable type printing-press spread quickly to many cities in Europe. By the end of the 1400s, it had made millions of books. This helped everyone learn because they could now read and share important ideas.

Explorers from Europe traveled far across the oceans during the Age of Discovery. They found new lands and connected different parts of the world through trade. Famous explorers like the Spaniards and Portuguese were joined later by the English, French, and Dutch. One amazing journey was the Magellan–Elcano expedition from 1519 to 1522, which was the first to sail all the way around the world. This helped people understand how big the Earth really is.

Pictures

Portrait of King Henry VIII from the 1500s, showing detailed clothing and fashion of the time.
Historical map of Europe created by Abraham Ortelius in 1595.
Historical map showing Europe around the year 1560.
An old map of Europe from the 1740s showing geography and a plan of the Don–Volga Canal, dedicated to Queen Caroline.
A historical map showing the borders of the Ottoman Empire in the year 1566 during the time of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.
A map showing the borders of the Ottoman Empire in the year 1900.
An artistic depiction of a historical scene involving Queen Elizabeth I, symbolizing her role in English succession.

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This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Early modern Europe, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Images from Wikimedia Commons. Tap any image to view credits and license.