Talk:Early modern Europe/Archive 1

Beards
"A good rule of thumb is that the Early Modern period begins in any particular European country with its first ruler to grow a beard (the Middle Ages being a characteristically clean-shaven period). Thus, the Early Modern period in Spain begins with Ferdinand, in England with Henry VIII, in France with Francis I, in the Holy Roman Empire with Charles V." Amusing anonymous contribution. Does anyone feel this belongs in the article? --Wetman 10:28, 26 March 2006 (UTC)


 * Beautiful, and true, but sadly unsourced. Looking at other European countries, we see Pope Julius II (r.1503-1513), Christian II of Denmark, James V of Scotland (r.1513-1542), Sigismund II of Poland (r.1548-1572, although several of his predecessors had moustaches), Louis II of Hungary (r.1516-1526)... on the other hand, in Portugal the first bearded monarch was Duarte (r.1433-1438), suggesting that the beard appeared first in Portugal and gradually spread east and north.  But this is all silliness. john k 21:11, 18 August 2006 (UTC)

Definition
The definition seems a bit odd to me. Traditionally, I've usually seen the period defined as the period between the discovery of America/Charles VIII's invasion of Italy (1492/4) to the French Revolution (1789), at least in terms of political history. Defining it with the Industrial Revolution seems odd and imprecise, as does starting it with the Reformation (although I've certainly seen that done). john k 21:11, 18 August 2006 (UTC)

Flanders
Any objections to adding Flanders (or Low Countries ... )alongside the Italian republics as a location for the rise of early capitalism. I don't have a source immediately to hand, but there is not one for Italy either. Itsmejudith 17:02, 7 October 2006 (UTC)

Philosophy
The entry reads "Similarly philosophy is divided between Renaissance philosophy and the Enlightenment." This is plain nonsense. Seventeenth century philosophy is what in this stupid classification???? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 201.42.19.189 (talk) 07:34, 11 September 2007 (UTC)

Needs to be cleaned up and restructured
I just made a number of changes to this page, but its still sort of a mess in my opinion -- the quality of writing and accuracy is generally fine, but the structure makes very little sense, and there's not very much of substance beyond a discussion of periodization. In the next few days I plan on trying to add some more info on social, religious, political etc. changes that I've gleaned from a graduate seminar in the historiography of early modern europe I'm currently taking. Please make a note on the discussion page before reverting changes. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Benjaminbreen (talk • contribs) 21:29, 30 October 2008‎ (UTC)

Turkey
Turkey might be useful to add as a major power. JOSHBLY (talk) 17:07, 31 October 2017 (UTC)

Austria
The House of Habsburg were extremely politically influential in this time and it would make sense to add them to a list of great powers JOSHBLY (talk) 17:08, 31 October 2017 (UTC)

It is extremely inappropriate not to include Spain among the main countries of the Modern Era.
Habsburg Spain was literally the first power of the sixteenth century and mid-seventeenth, and its Empire, besides being the largest empire, came to control important areas of Europe, and the New World.

The Tercios dominated the European fields for almost a century and a half until their defeat at the Battle of Rocroi and their powerful Naval force based in Galleones allowed them to enrich themselves by bringing precious metals from the Americas and trading luxury goods in Manila, it was one of the countries richest in Europe.

That Spain does not appear at this time is almost as anomalous as not including the United Kingdom among the most powerful countries of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

I add Spain. JamesOredan (talk) 19:39, 1 January 2019 (UTC)