The intellectual developments of the period included the creation of the economic theory of mercantilism and the publication of works of political and social philosophy , such as Machiavelli 's The Prince ( 1513 ) and Thomas More 's Utopia ( 1515 ) . The intellectual developments of the period included the creation of the economic theory of mercantilism and the publication of enduringly influential works of political and social philosophy , such as Machiavelli 's The Prince ( 1513 ) and Thomas More 's Utopia ( 1515 ) .