WARNING: This section has four topics, the most of any unit in the course curriculum. So, buckle down--read AMSCO, watch videos, and put in the time to learn skills...But, you must know these empires: Portugal, Spain, Holland (the Dutch), England, and France. However, this topic will remind us that there are more people and empires in the word. No one place is similar in how they confronted these Europeans, while some fell prey to their technological advantages and desires for silver and plantation cash crops. This topic will also look at the lowest laboring classes in Europe. As the working class witnesses stocking exchanging-counterparts, they will demand their share as there will be an increase revolts. In addition, notable gender and family restructuring occurs, including demographic changes in Africa that resulted from the slave trades and socio-political systems that develop to consolidate power in European colonies. Religiously, conflicts continued between ancient Islamic rivalries, but new syncretic belief systems and cultural practices also develop.
There is a lot. I get it. If I can narrow this down, here are the five things you need to focus on:
1. Be more than familiar with the 'Big 5 Empires' (Portugal, Spain, Holland, England, & France).
2. European Trading Post Empires are up and running--indigenous people choosing to deal with them differently.
3. Mercantilism fueled Joint Stock companies who had monopolies on trade in certain regions (focus on the British East India Company and the Dutch VOC)
4. The Atlantic System (Triangular Trade) sparked massive changes demographically in Africa and economically worldwide with all that Spanish Silver moving around the planet--mostly to China.
5. All of these empires setting up shop in foreign places inevitably led to the formation of syncretic religions like Vodun (also referred to as Voodo in some Western places).