There were many important changes in Europe history during 1500 to 1700. During this period, structure of Europe changed, reformations made, and idea of government appeared. Many important ideas that created modern day Europe and western civilization constructed around this time period.
Three given important events , protestant reformation with catholic church division , English civil war with creation of absolutism and scientific revolution, they are all definitely most important 3 events during that period. When I started to think which one I can pick as most important, I decided to look for as cause and result relationship. And I found Protestant reformation and breaking unity of Catholic Church found especially more important. Reason that prepare all other events were actually reformation of Catholic Church.
As we know during Middle Ages Europe went dark ages as science. Science in Europe lost connection with Greek and Roman philosophy, and it adopted Christian beliefs as recipe for natural world. It stayed behind east and Islamic civilization. Starting from early 1600s, European scientist scientists started to use scientific method and reasoning and advanced on areas like astronomy philosophy and medicine. Although scientific discoveries became significant component of western culture, those advances have no direct cause on protestant reformation or English civil war. We can mention only two technological advances which have great impact on Europe. Navigation and Printing press. Advancement s on these two area has direct effect on religious reformation and mercantilism.
It’s difficult to claim that religious reformations started after philosophical ideas during 1600s and 1700s. In fact religion division and reformation movements were already exist since early 1500s and enlightenment period sparkled by philosophers after 1600. Almost 100yrs before John Locke Pierre Bayle, Voltaire, Francis Hutcheson, David Hume and Isaac Newton great religious division between Catholics, Lutherans and Calvinists was exist. Galileo and many other great scientist came after first quarter of 17th century. But ideas started protestant revolution created by Martin Luther around 1517.
English civil war and glorious revolution was birth of constructional monarchy. Even 100 years before French revolution, English revolt against their king and they executed him after the trial. King was representation of god and owner of land and people until that time. This was unprecedented move for that century. It changed position of king from above law to under the law. Although this was event with big impact on later political structure of Europe and acted as steps from constitutional monarch to democracy which later evolved after French revolution. But English civil war also was not cause to protestant reformation but it’s a result of protestant reformation. Religious division were exist long before English civil war during Charles II and even foundation of Church of England during Henry VIII.
After mid 17Th century, powerful monarch in Europe started to appear. One of most powerful king Louis XIV of France assume direct control of government, kept his nobles loyal but exclude them from government and recruited men from merchant and professional classes to run government. Other kings, Peter the Great of Russia, Frederick the Great of Prussia, just like Louis XV created powerful centralized states with strong armies and bureaucracies under their control. Although very powerful states seen in this period, religious enlightenment already started 100 years and cause many clashes between every layer of society cause long period internal fights and civil wars result of religious conflicts just like English civil war, and French religion wars.
So we can single out Protestant Reformation which broke the unity of Roman Catholic Europe as most important event in early modern Europe history. Protestant reformation and religious enlightenment did caused English civil war and glorious revolution, and it also conceived scientific revolution
Earliest reformation seen at the beginning of 16th century, John Calvin (1509-64) was one of leading theologist of Calvinism movement. Also many catholic priests and theologians started to argue against papal authority and teachings, they saw bible as only source for Christianity. This result increasing division between roman catholic church and peasants who looking for religion they can understand. Movement also gained many followers from aristocrats to kings who don’t like control of pope. Protestant reformation also led Catholic Church to reform itself, as Counter Reformation, Catholic Church reduced corruption and made damage control.
Events led by religious reformation, effected Europe almost for 2 centuries. Some counties puled in to big religious conflicts, separated from control of Rome, while others were more tolerated and let different religions groups peacefully live together.
So we can claim that, religious conflict as result of religious reformation in Europe change political, social, military, economic, religious and intellectual structure of Europe. It led English revolution, decline of absolutism scientific and industrial revolution, Thus it is most important main event and starter of other events on this era.
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