Transition to Modern Times

【World History Inquiry】Welcome to the Early Modern World!

Hello everyone! Do you ever feel like "World History is just too difficult with all these foreign names and dates..."? Well, don't worry. This chapter on the "Early Modern World" is a truly exciting story about how the "globalized world" we live in today first began.
In a nutshell, this era was a time when "a scattered world began to connect through the seas." The Age of Discovery, the Renaissance, the Reformation… you’ve likely heard these terms before. Let’s have fun unraveling how they are all connected!

1. The Age of Discovery: The World Connected by the "Sea"!

Until then, Europeans didn’t even know the American continent existed. So why did they throw themselves into the sea, risking their lives?

Why go out to sea? (Background)

There are three main reasons.
1. They wanted spices! Back then, items like pepper were incredibly popular for preserving meat and making food taste better. However, overland routes meant paying high commissions to Islamic powers, so they thought, "Let’s go buy them directly ourselves!"
2. They wanted to spread Christianity: They sought to expand their influence to counter Islamic power.
3. Advancements in technology: Tools like the compass improved, making ships more capable of traveling long distances.

The key figures!

• Columbus: With the support of Spain, he headed west and reached America (the West Indies) in 1492. The name comes from his mistaken belief that he had arrived in India.
• Vasco da Gama: He sailed around the southern tip of Africa and finally discovered a sea route to India.
• Magellan (and his crew): They achieved the first circumnavigation of the globe, proving that the Earth is round.

【Fun Fact】
It is said that pepper at the time was worth as much as its weight in "gold." From a modern perspective, maybe it was a passion equivalent to lining up for the latest iPhone!

【Key Point】
This Age of Discovery launched the "Atlantic triangular trade," linking Europe, Africa, and the Americas, and set the global economy into motion.

2. The Renaissance and the Reformation: People’s "Ways of Thinking" Changed!

While changes were happening on the high seas, a major shift was occurring within Europe regarding the "heart" and "mind."

The Renaissance (Rebirth)

Until then, the European mindset was "God is #1! Humans are secondary." However, a movement began that said, "Like the ancient Greeks and Romans, let’s live more humanly and freely!" This is Humanism.
(Example: Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, etc.)

The Reformation

The Christian church (the Catholic Church) held immense power at the time, but corruption had spread in some areas. One person became furious when the church started selling "tickets to heaven" (indulgences).
That person was Luther of Germany.

• Luther: Argued, "What matters isn't money (indulgences), but the Bible and faith!"
• Calvin: Active in Switzerland. He preached that "whether or not you are saved is decided by God from the beginning (predestination)." This gained support from hardworking merchants and industrialists.

【Common Misconception】
People often think "The Reformation = a new religion was created," but that’s not quite right. Understand it as a group of people emerging to protest (the Protestants) against the Catholic (traditional) church!

【Summary: This is important!】
Through the Renaissance and the Reformation, people were gradually freed from the belief that "the church is absolute" and started thinking for themselves.

3. Absolutism: The King’s Power in Full Swing!

From the 16th to the 17th century, a form of government emerged in Europe called "Absolutism," where the monarch held immense power.

The secret to the King's strength

Kings used the theory of the "Divine Right of Kings" (The king's power is granted by God, so no one can defy it!) to justify their rule. They also organized the following two elements to control the country:
1. Standing Army: Professional soldiers ready to fight at any time.
2. Bureaucracy: Officials who carried out the King’s orders across the nation.

Representative Kings

• Philip II (Spain): Expanded territory across the globe, leading to the era described as the empire on which "the sun never sets."
• Elizabeth I (England): Defeated the Spanish Armada and kicked off the Golden Age of England.
• Louis XIV (France): Known as the "Sun King," he built the opulent Palace of Versailles. He is famous for the saying, "L'état, c'est moi" (I am the state).

【Step-by-step understanding: Mercantilism】
Kings needed money to maintain strong armies and a luxurious lifestyle. Therefore, governments intervened in the economy, adopting a policy of "mercantilism" to increase exports and hoard gold and silver. This eventually led to later colonial conflicts.

4. Asia in the Early Modern Era: The Prosperity of Great Empires

While Europe was venturing out to sea, massive and stable empires were thriving in Asia as well.

China: Ming and Qing

• Ming: A state of the Han people. During the reign of the Yongle Emperor, Zheng He led large-scale naval expeditions, expanding trade from Southeast Asia all the way to Africa.
• Qing: Established by the Manchus. Great rulers like the Kangxi Emperor emerged, building a vast empire that serves as the foundation for the borders of modern-day China.

The Islamic World

• Ottoman Empire: Centered in Turkey, it reigned as a massive empire controlling the Mediterranean.
• Mughal Empire: Governed India, where a beautiful culture emerged that fused Indian and Islamic styles, famously represented by the Taj Mahal.

【Key Point】
At this time, Asia was economically wealthier than Europe. European nations were desperate to acquire Asian silk, ceramics, and tea.

Overall Summary: Just remember these points!

1. The Age of Discovery connected the world through the seas, getting goods and people moving.
2. The Renaissance and the Reformation shifted people's focus from "God" to "Humans" and "Reason."
3. Absolutism created a powerful form of the "nation-state" in Europe.
4. Great Asian Empires (like the Qing and the Ottomans) remained strong and were still one of the world's centers.

It might feel overwhelming with all the new terms at first, but if you keep the big picture of a "world connected by the sea" in mind, history starts to look like one continuous story. Keep learning step by step and having fun with it! Don't worry—you are steadily getting closer to mastering this.