Final answer:
The phrase that awakened people in the 1500s refers to the Renaissance, a period of revival in arts, sciences, and classical learning after the Middle Ages. It marked the end of the Dark Ages and led to European colonialism, beginning with Columbus's voyage in 1492.
Step-by-step explanation:
Little happened through the Dark Ages until the Renaissance (1500s) that awakened people. After the fall of the Roman Empire around 476 CE, the Middle Ages were a time of turmoil and instability in Europe, characterized by political and military discord without a centralized power. It was only after this period, known as the Dark Ages, that a significant cultural and intellectual revival occurred, marking the onset of the Renaissance. This 'rebirth' began in the late fourteenth century and flourished into the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, bringing with it a resurgence of interest in classical philosophy, art, and science.
The Renaissance period was critical in setting the stage for the era of European colonialism. In 1492, Christopher Columbus's voyage across the Atlantic symbolized the initiation of expansive European exploration and colonial activities. These events marked a significant departure from the isolationist tendencies of the Dark Ages and led to the re-engagement of Europe with the wider world, resuming the exchange of ideas, goods, and cultures on a global scale.
Key developments during the Middle Ages, such as the advent of Scholasticism and the invention of new agricultural technologies, laid the groundwork for the Renaissance. Additionally, the establishment of cathedral schools led to the formation of universities, which became centers of learning and helped spread new ideas that furthered the intellectual life of Europe. Thus, while the Middle Ages were fraught with challenges like the Black Death and various conflicts, they also contained the seeds for the transformative period known as the Renaissance that reawakened Europe and eventually the rest of the world.