The term "early modern" refers to the historical period from the late 15th century to the early 18th century. The spelling of this term is phonetically transcribed as /ˈɜːli ˈmɒdən/. The stress falls on the first syllable "er," which is pronounced with a short "e" sound followed by the "r" sound. The second syllable "ly" is pronounced with a long "e" sound, and the final syllable "mod" is pronounced with a short "o" sound followed by the "d" sound.
Early modern refers to the historical period between the late 15th and the late 18th centuries, spanning the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity. It is characterized by significant shifts in political, cultural, economic, and intellectual aspects of society, marking the beginnings of the modern world.
During this era, Europe witnessed momentous transformations in various realms. Politically, it was defined by the decline of feudalism and the rise of nation-states, as well as the exploration and colonization of the New World by European powers. Culturally, there was a surge in artistic expressions and movements, such as the Renaissance, which celebrated humanism and classical influences. Additionally, the Reformation challenged religious unity and led to the emergence of new religious denominations.
Economically, early modern societies began to experience urbanization and the growth of mercantilism, with trade expanding across continents. This period also witnessed the Scientific Revolution, where advances in scientific thinking and experimentation laid the groundwork for the Enlightenment.
The term "early modern" encompasses a multitude of transformations, innovations, and ideas that set the stage for the subsequent centuries. Its significance lies in the profound changes it brought about in politics, society, culture, and thought, setting the path for the transition towards the modern world as we know it today.
The term "early modern" is a compound phrase, with "early" coming from the Old English word "ærlīce", meaning "soon" or "promptly", and "modern" derived from the Latin "modernus", meaning "just now", "recent", or "new". "Early modern" is often used to classify the period of history between the Middle Ages and the Modern Era, describing the transitional time from traditional medieval societies to the beginning of modern civilization. The term gained popularity in the mid-20th century to categorize this particular era, combining aspects of both the past and the present.