How did the Renaissance, Reformation and the new geographical discoveries lead to the Modern Age?

The Renaissance, Reformation, and new geographical discoveries led to the Modern Age by bringing about major changes in European society.

• The Renaissance marked a rebirth of learning and a revival of ideas from ancient Greece and Rome, influencing many fields of life and thought.

• The Reformation challenged the authority of the Pope and led to the rise of Protestant Churches and the Catholic Reformation, weakening the old religious order.

• The new geographical discoveries expanded man’s knowledge of the world and opened new opportunities for trade and exploration.

Together with the social and economic changes within feudal society, these developments caused the collapse of the feudal order and marked the beginning of the Modern Age in Europe.