Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Mediterranean decline: Trade routes shifted from Mediterranean to Atlantic; Venice, Genoa, Rome faded while Lisbon, Antwerp, Amsterdam rose.
Atlantic empires ascend: Protestant nations dominated Atlantic trade, colonized Americas, built commercial networks. Spain, England, France, Dutch Republic, Sweden became colonial powers.
Capitalism and banking growth: Reformation's individual responsibility ethos fostered capitalism, joint‑stock companies, banking. American precious metals caused inflation, spurring financial innovation.
Trade expansion: Global commerce brought new goods, ideas; merchant guilds and trading companies flourished.
Rise of nation‑states: Religious and political boundaries aligned; monarchs seized church assets, centralized authority; mercantilism prevailed.
Religious wars and peace: Thirty Years' War (1618‑48) reshaped territories; Peace of Westphalia (1648) established religious toleration and new borders.
Alliance realignment: Catholic (Spain, France) vs. Protestant (England, Dutch, Scandinavia) blocs; diplomacy became pivotal.
Parliamentary emergence: In England, Parliament gained power, laying constitutional foundations.
Church‑state separation: Governance grew more secular; religious freedom concepts emerged.