HISTORY 1500-1800 (critical thinking)

Europe underwent several massive changes after the exploration of the Americas , the Columbian Exchange , the Renaissance , the Reformation , the Counter-Reformation , the Scientific Revolution , and several religious wars . Before these events , the Europeans lived under monarchies where religion and government were one in the same and world trade was non existent . These events ushered in early modern Europe and changed the continent forever

In the 1450s , rapid changes overtook Europe . Some of these changes were technological , involving advances in firearms and sailing economic , involving the development of trade networks , and religious

leading to the exploration of the Americas . Before the exploration of the Americas , the farthest Europeans traveled was northwest toward Ireland . Europeans had always been followers of the sea , but the bold exploration into the Americas was their greatest achievement . Before these changes , ninety percent of Europeans were farmers living in small villages . There were food shortages due to war and low grain yields which produced a society that was prone to disease . There was a blend of desperation and ambition that lead the Europeans to the Americas The Americas meant salvation and security from a war-torn and disease-ridden land

Early modern Europe was a world of inequalities . One quarter of all children died within the first year of life , peasants and craft workers made several hundred times less than aristocrats and nobles , and kings were weak and warrior lords ran small towns . The upper classes provided protection and land for the lower classes and homicide , rape , and robbery were...