The Renaissance/Early Modern Period is distinguished from other periods in European history almost entirely in intellectual or cultural terms. ... European historians overwhelmingly tend to place Europe's major break with its medieval and classical past with the discovery of America and the Reformation. ... Beginning in Italy in 1400, it spread throughout Western Europe lasting until 1600. It was during this time that Europe was busy pulling herself out of the economic stagnation of the Middle Ages. With this new financial growth came political, scientific and social energy unlike ...

• Word Count: 1970
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Geography, more than anything, gave Italy the advantage over the rest of Europe. During the time when the rest of Europe was in the throes of medieval Feudalism and Manorialism, all commerce had stopped, but merchants and artists in northern Italy had maintained trade and commerce activities with both the Byzantine East and the European West. By the 11th century Italy dominated commerce in the Mediterranean and Western Europe, this enabled them to amass great wealth and a certain sense of self-confidence. The Italians, through organization and cleverness exploited their advantages, and by t...

• Word Count: 2254
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: High School

Unlike the law of demand, the supply relationship has an upwards slope. ... Free trade is currently exemplified by the European Union/European economic area and the North American free trade agreement, which have established open markets. ...

• Word Count: 2078
• Approx Pages: 8
• Has Bibliography