Which economic change was significant during the "Two Reformations"?

The rise in prices and the shift in trade patterns toward the Atlantic during the Two Reformations is a significant economic change because it reflects the broader transitions occurring in Europe during the late Renaissance and the Protestant Reformation. This period marked an increase in exploration and maritime trade, particularly with the discoveries of new trade routes to the Americas and Asia.

The Atlantic became increasingly important for trade as European powers expanded their colonial empires, seeking new markets and resources. This shift not only led to the rise in prices due to increased demand for goods from the New World, such as sugar, tobacco, and cotton, but also facilitated the development of a burgeoning Atlantic economy. Major powers, such as Spain, Portugal, England, and France, began to focus their economic strategies on Atlantic trade, which profoundly transformed European economies and their social structures.

Understanding this context underscores how intercontinental exchange influenced economic growth and the rise of merchant classes, which were critical elements in shaping the political and religious landscapes of the time.