Wow, this answer could be a book, but I will try to give a short summary here. The effect of the Reformation was crucial in creating a New World Order. First, the Reformation broke the power of the Roman Catholic Church releasing people all over Europe from its domination allowing much more freedom of thought and the exchange of ideas. Secondly, the Reformation split Europe - before this all Europeans had followed the same religion - now each country basically chose its own religion, increasing national sentiment and unity. Before the Reformation people spoke of living in Christendom or in their local area, but after the Reformation people began to say they lived in England, or France etc... Thirdly, the Reformation had a focus on the choices and actions of the individual in his relationship with God finally giving value to the individual over in relation to society. This will later translate into the idea that "all men are created equal." Countries based on a Protestant foundation such as England were quicker to develop representational goverments with limitations on the power of monarchs than Catholic nations such as France which began to develop the concept of the divine right of rule.
The major effect of the sacking of Constantinople was that it broke the power of Byzantium and turned the eyes of Europe west for both expansion and trade routes, leading to the discovery of the Americas
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