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Major historical events between 1450 and 1800
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Question 1
The period up to around 1000 A. D is known as the Dark Ages. The period got its name from the fact that little is known about the events that occurred during this time. Historians agree that this period was characterized by a lack of significant change in culture and politics. The era that followed the Dark Age showed significant improvements in social and political interactions. Between 1450 and 1800 A. D, numerous events occurred, some of which continued to redefine history. The main factor that helped change social expectations in this period was the enlightenment (“Unit III: 1450 – 1750 C.E,” n.d.). The enlightenment era is the period from the late 1600’s to the early 1800’s that changed the course of philosophy and science. The events that occurred in this era caused significant changes in intellectual and critical thinking.
During the enlightenment, societies were changed by the introduction of science. People started using science and reason as opposed to religious beliefs or political interests. It is important to note that religion in Europe had dominated societies from the middle ages onwards. For example, Christianity and its beliefs controlled most of the communities during the middle ages. The practice continued for centuries. The enlightenment marks the period when politics, philosophy, and science were reoriented. Sir Isaac Newton is a significant figure of this era. He wrote numerous theories in calculus and physics which became a foundation for other scientists.

He wrote his popular book “Principia Mathematica”, which served as a foundation for major advances in science. A significant event during this era is the publication of Encyclopedie. The publication received contributions from many scientists and philosophers. The publication contributed ideas on Capitalism. Historians indicate that it might have contributed to the French Revolution. People began changing from being faith-based to being more intellectual. The expectation created by this era was that enlightenment would result in peace, conflicts would end, and philosophies would create better societal interactions. The era of enlightenment no doubt had significant contributions to the change in societal behaviors and expectations.
Question 2
The most significant political reform between 1450 and 1800 was the change from monarchies to nation-states. Monarchy governments were very strong in Western Europe. In 1450, Europe was divided into kingdoms. The kingdoms were ruled by rulers who had the lowest grasp of political power. Most of the leaders were born into families that had been rulers for years and continued the tradition. The political structures that existed at that time were held together by years of the political feud. Between 1450 and 1750, the stronger kings gained enough power that allowed them to venture into various explorations (“Unit III: 1450 – 1750 C.E,” n.d.). Three nations arose to create some form of centralized governments. The nations were England, France, and Spain. Bureaucracy with a central point of power replaced medieval governments. The centralization of governments led to reforms in economics, politics, and religion. Economically, this change led to the creation of cities that attracted business. The major cities at the time were Paris, London, and Amsterdam. Politically, the major centralized governments created their own colonies that were ruled according to how the colonizing nation was ruled back in Europe. For example, French colonies were based on controlling bureaucracies while English colonies were economic-oriented. On religion, the nations were divided against practicing Catholicism and Protestant Christianity.
References
Unit III: 1450 – 1750 C.E. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.historyhaven.com/APWH/unit%203/UNIT%20III%20NOTES.htm