The early modern period is roughly around the 1500s - 1800s. It begins with European exploration and ends around the period of the French Revolution. The late modern period follows the early modern period and ends around World War 2.
The early modern period also saw the rise and dominance of the economic theory of mercantilism. As such, the early modern period is often associated with the decline and eventual disappearance (at least in Western Europe) of feudalism and serfdom.
Other notable trends of the early modern period include the development of experimental science, increasingly rapid technological progress, secularized civic politics, accelerated travel due to improvements in mapping and ship design, and the emergence of nation states.
