A、The large gap between the rich and the poor. B、The development of capitalism. C、The Renaissance. D、The religious reform moveme

The English permanent settlements in North America began in the 17th century when Western Europe was undergoing great changes. During the Middle-ages, Europe was under the single spiritual authority of the Roman Catholic Church. The peasants were tied to the soil and worked in the riel& for their lords. Merchants and craftsmen were handicapped by the social disorders. Art and learning were controlled by the Church. By the 16th century, some new and powerful social forces began to emerge which led to the awakening of Europe and the discovery of America.
    The first new force was the development of capitalism. The growth of capitalism produced two new classes—the bourgeois class and the working class. With the fast development of commerce and trade, the bourgeoisie became increasingly powerful in politics as well as in economy. They wanted to share power with feudal lords and in some countries such as England they wanted to have more power from the king so that they could have free development. The English Revolution was the result of this growth of capitalism.
    The second major force that brought about the modern development of Europe was the Renaissance, which was marked by a changing outlook on life. The God-centered world was challenged by the great progress in natural and social science. Many challenged the authority of the Bible and were willing to observe, experiment and test truths for them- selves. This attitude pushed the development of technology.
    The third influence force was the Religious Reformation, a religious reform movement that started from Germany.