Historical reference point for
the Western World that
defines the period of
time following the
Renaissance. The exact dates aren't really a concern, but a good rough
guideline is the late
fifteenth century to the mid
eighteenth century.
The Early Modern Period is typically described as beginning with the discovery of The New World and/or the outbreak of the Reformation and the Counter-reformation. These two events provoked a dramatic and profound change in human consciousness, awakening entire new modes of thought - particularly in the realms of economics, theology, art and philosophy.
Some of the key thinkers of the Early Modern Period include:
Of course this can't even begin to list the number of
influential individuals during this period, but it it a
stepping off point.