During this period states begin to develop colonies and exploration of the new world. The discoveries and travel further challenged church authority. After such journeys by Columbus and Magellan, the concept of church's monopoly on truth was attacked once again. The third period in history starts with the age of reason. Its intellectual basis of the time period is science and natural law.
Empiricism plays a fundamental role in church legitimacy.
Factual concrete proof of God and his work is not provided by science. States begin to mature politically as colonial powers. The Church or rather the concept of religion is still strong but begins a transformation during the Enlightenment. From Religion ideas of morality and natural law arise. Locke addresses the role of the government of a state.