The political revolution during the Stuart age could not have happened
if there had not been a revolution in thought. This influenced not only
politics, but also religion and science. By 1714 people's ideas and beliefs had
changed enormously. The real Protestant revolution did not, in fact, happen
until the seventeenth century, when several new religious groups appeared. But
there were also exciting new scientific ideas, quite separate from these new
beliefs. For the first time it was reasonable to argue that everything in the
universe had a natural explanation, and this led to a new self-confidence.
Another reason for this self-confidence was the change in Britain's
international position during the century. In 1603, in spite of the Armada
victory of 1588 and in spite of the union of England and Scotland under one
sovereign, Britain was still considered less important than France, Spain and
the Holy Roman Empire. But by 1714 the success of its armies against France had
made Britain a leading European power. At the same time Britain had so many new
colonies that it was now in competition with earlier colonial nations, Spain,
Portugal and the Netherlands.
