1. Protestant Reformation: This movement was started by a German clergyman Martin Luther against the corrupt practices of the Roman Catholic church in the 16th Century. As a result of this movement, Christianity was divided between the Roman Catholic and the Protestant Churches.

2. Counter-Reformation: This movement was started by the Roman Catholic Church to counter the effects of the Protestant Reformation, which was spreading very rapidly, is known a counter-Reformation. According to this movement, the Catholic Church tried to reform itself of some of its objectionable practices.

For example, now the Bishops were appointed on the basis of ability. This movement tried to recover the last influence of the Roman Church.

3. Humanism: It is a philosophy of life. It stressed the importance of man and his sentiments rather than the religious matters. During the Renaissance period, the influence of Humanism was much evident in art, science and literature.

The exponents of Humanism believed that the worldly problems of man should be solved first and then the man should think about God, Heaven etc.

4. Heretics: All those persons who criticised their corrupt and objectionable practices of the Roman Catholic Church were called 'Heretics'. They were heavily punished by the Pope.

Sometimes they were burnt alive. John Huss, a professor of Prague University was also declared 'Heretic' by the Pope and was burnt alive by his orders.

5. Mercantilism: It is a theory of economics which measured the wealth of a country according to a number of precious metals, particularly gold. The exponents of this theory insist that a country should export the maximum quantity of goods and should restrict its import in order to maintain the balance of trade and to increase her gold reserves.

6. Nation-States: The Nation-States were established in the Renaissance Period. These States were governed by a strong political ruler. These States used to keep themselves free from all kinds of foreign interference, political or religious.

The Nation-States used to have a common language and common philosophy. They were governed by a uniform Code of Laws.

7. Gold, Glory and God: During the end of the 15th and the beginning of the 16th centuries, the European nations had only three motives Gold, Glory and God. Most of the nations were after the material wealth i.e. Gold.

Some other nations were inspired to achieve Glory of being the discoverers of new lands or founders of new Empires. Still, there were some other nations who were inspired by the zeal of spreading their religion i.e. the message of God.

8. Absolutism: In the 16th century there was the emergence of the new political system which is known as absolutism or despotism. The European rulers, who believed in the divine rights of the King.


They said that they had got the power to rule directly from God. They preached that if the people disobeyed them, they would be disobeying God.