It's not like people woke up one day in 1453 and said "Hey, it's good to be done with those nasty Late Middle Ages.  Let's move on to something new." 

     The changed way of thinking took place over a period of centuries, but it was a profound change indeed.  It began with the Renaissance (Rebirth) of the cultures of Antiquity (Greece and Rome).  In search of new answers, the growing number of intellectuals in Europe looked to the human mind to deal with their struggles.  This led to science and the rise of the value of the individual.

     In addition to the Renaissance, two important events took place in the years that followed the Middle Ages.  With the voyages of Christopher Columbus, Europeans branched out to discover and conquer a "New World", gaining great wealth and power along the way.

     A few years later, Martin Luther launched the Protestant Reformation.  This reform movement resulted in the splintering of the Christian churches in Europe, discredited the Catholic Church, and led to bloody wars over religion across the continent.