What broad themes characterized the period between 1450 and 1750?

The period between 1450 and 1750 was characterized by the rise of global trade networks, driven by European exploration and colonization, which facilitated the exchange of goods, ideas, and cultures. This era also saw the emergence of powerful nation-states and the consolidation of political authority, along with the beginnings of the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment, which challenged traditional beliefs and promoted reason and empirical inquiry. Additionally, the period was marked by significant social changes, including the impact of the transatlantic slave trade and the spread of new religious movements, such as Protestantism.