Hi kids!!!
Let's continue learning about History.
The next period after the Middle Ages is called The Early Modern Age or Renaissance (Renacimiento in Spanish).
It is called Renaissance because it was a time of coming out of the dark, the rebirth of education, science, art, literature and music. One of the greatest people was Leonardo da Vinci, an Italian painter, sculptor, scientist, inventor, architect, engineer and writer. In short words, a genius!!!
The Early Modern Age began in the year 1,492 (at the end of the 15th century) with the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus (Cristóbal Colón). At that time travelling the Silk Road was very dangerous and going to India and China around Africa was too long. So Christopher Columbus thought he could sail straight to India and China crossing the Atlantic ocean. But we all know that America is just in the middle.
Here you have a video to learn more about the discovery of America.
At this time there were also many inventions like the printing press by Gutenberg. The use of the compass was extended to all explores and they also had better maps. Ships improved.
It was also a period of great writers and painters. This period in Spain is known as the Golden Age. We have great writers like Miguel de Cervantes, Lope de Vega, Quevedo and many others. There were also great artists like El Greco, Velázquez o Zurbarán.
In those years Spain had many explorers like Colón, Magallanes, Núñez de Balboa and it conquered many lands in America, Asia and Africa. Spain had a big empire.
In 1,789 there was a revolution in France (the French Revolution) that was a big change in society because the people (el pueblo) began to have more power. The French Revolution was the end of the Early Modern Age.
Here you have another video to learn more about this important revolution.
In your book you can read the information about the Early Modern Age at pages 90 and 91.
