The modern period is the era of history that runs from about 1500 to the present, though historians disagree about exactly where it begins and how to divide it. It is often split into the early modern period, which lasted until about 1800, and the late modern period that followed. The start is traditionally linked to developments such as the voyages that connected Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas, the spread of printing, the Renaissance and the Reformation. Later themes include the rise of the nation-state, the Scientific Revolution, the Enlightenment, industrialisation, the great revolutions and the world wars. Some scholars use the label for the whole span, while others reserve it for the centuries after 1800.
Before and after
- from 1498 to 1975Portuguese Mozambique
- 1499Pietà (Michelangelo)
- from 15th century to 18th centuryAge of Discovery
- c. 1500sDavid
- c. 1500Modern period
- 15th centuryConstruction of Red Square
- from 15th century to 18th centuryEarly modern period
- from 1500 to 1785Khanate of Bukhara
- from 15th century to 16th centuryRise of Manueline
More in Civilizations & archaeology
- 6 August 1538Founding of Bogotá
- 1541Founding of Santiago
- 12 June 1550Founding of Helsinki
- from 26 July 1581 to 19 January 1795Dutch Republic
- 1614Founding of Tirana
- 29 March 1693Founding of Curitiba
The era
This moment belongs to the Early modern world (1500 CE to 1760 CE), voyages, printing and new ideas. You can also browse everything in the 15th century.