transformations that occurred in the Atlantic world as a result of new contacts among Western Europe, Africa, and the Americas from 1492-1750.
Americas
were isolated from the rest
of the world and all the Afro-Eurasian advances Asia was the powerhouse of the world and dominated trade (especially Arabs and Indians China had recently withdrawn from trade) European interest in spice trade led to overseas exploration
What
is staying the same during this
time period? Patriarchies (male dominated societies)
European values imposed on Americas
Spread of religions is constant (Christianity) Importance of corn, beans, squash in providing food in Americas
Social
classes in Americas based on race
Peninsulares, creoles, mestizos/mulattoes, Native
Americans and Africans
Slave
trade
Led to decreased population in Africa
Weakened remaining African civilizations and
hurt the potential rise of new ones
Spread
of disease (smallpox)
Decimated Native American populations
Encomienda system further decreased
populations
Christianity
blends with traditional
Native American and African beliefs Voudou in Haiti Santeria in Cuba Gods replaced by saints, but some old
traditions remain (e.g. bloodletting)
Mercantilism Europeans grow wealthy at the expense of
colonies/Native Americans and Africans
Columbian
Exchange
Spread of plants, animals, ideas between
Europe, Africa and Americas
Triangular
trade
Facilitated mercantilism and Columbian
Exchange Global
economy
What
is going on during this time period
that is allowing these changes and continuities to take place? Rise of and competition among nation-states in
Europe (eventual rise of absolute monarchs)
Protestant Reformation and rise of Ottoman Empire led to expansion of Catholicism in Americas Advanced weapons of Europeans (guns, germs, and steel) allowed colonization (a result of geography)
As
Europeans came to economically
dominate trans-Atlantic trade, their influence over the social customs of Native Americans and Africans also expanded.
While
Europeans benefitted from the
expansion of economic activities into the Americas, this era of trade and conquest brought about social changes to the populations and customs of Native Americans and Africans.
As
Europeans came to economically
dominate trans-Atlantic trade, their influence over the social customs of Native Americans and Africans also expanded.
Over
the course of this time period,
Europeans exerted increasing economic dominance over the Americas and Africa, which led to many social changes within the Atlantic world.
Make
sure that you are not only
stating what the changes and continuities are, but also WHY they happened.