Early modern period explained to kids

The early modern period is the period of history between the Middle Ages and the Industrial Revolution, approximately from 1500 to 1800. This period is characterized by major changes in many areas of society, including the rise of nation-states, the growth of cities, the development of science and technology, and the spread of the printing press. During the early modern period, Europe experienced a period of political and economic stability, known as the Pax Britannica. This period saw the rise of the British Empire, which came to dominate the world. The early modern period also saw the rise of the Russian Empire and the Ottoman Empire. During the early modern period, the arts and sciences flourished. This was a time of great advances in mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and astronomy. Many of the great thinkers of the time, such as René Descartes, Isaac Newton, and Gottfried Leibniz, made their mark during this period. The early modern period was also a time of religious and political turmoil. The Protestant Reformation began in the 16th century, and religious wars raged across Europe. The Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history. The early modern period came to an end with the French Revolution of 1789 and the Napoleonic Wars. These events ushered in the era of the Industrial Revolution and the modern age.