Introduction to Part 4: The Early Modern World (1450 - 1750)

The Big Picture

The Early Modern Era was three centuries long and lasted from 1450 to 1750. The term "early modern era" means that there was early signs of modernization such as the beginning of globalization, the sprout of individual modern societies and the expansion of the European affairs throughout the world. The latter was the most obvious illustration of globalization. One of the most important event during this period was the Columbian exchange where not only was the mass transport of plants and animals carried over people and diseases all over the world as well. Europeans retained power over areas they conquered by pushing Christianity to local people. Russians advanced to the Pacific thru Siberia while China branched out deeper into Inner Asia and the Ottoman Empire took over part of the Middle East, North Africa and Southeastern Europe.

Another sign of modernity is the spread of American food such as corn and potatoes to China, Japan, India, and Europe. Ironically, world population more than doubled even with the spread of disease and stunted growth of African population due to slavery. The Scientific Revolution in Europe was the most obvious sign of modernization as members of high society changed their view of the world, approach to knowledge and understanding of traditional Christianity.

There was an obvious suggestion of signs of movement towards the modern era but European world domination and fully modern societies were not a "sure thing". Europeans may have governed the Americas and the world's sea routes but they didn't have much power in mainland Asia and Africa. Islam was the fastest growing religion in Asia and Africa, not Christianity. 

Since it was only the beginning, there was still a clear sign of the past era. Some people in European, Islamic and Chinese societies refused to embrace modernization and urged to revert back to traditional living. In ways, it may be more proper to call this era as a mixture of the what was new and old.


Source:
"Ways of the World: A Brief Global History" by Robert W. Strayer, pages 397-399.