Continuity and Change from 1450 to 1750

Continuity and Change from 1450 to 1750: AP World History Study Guide

Welcome, history enthusiasts, to a whirlwind tour of transoceanic interactions between 1450 and 1750! Imagine a world where explorers were the original globetrotters, empires were the superpowers, and trade was the hottest trend. Hold on to your compasses and astrolabes, it’s going to be an enlightening journey! 🌍🚢

Imagine economics as the backstage crew of a huge theatrical production—making sure everything runs smoothly and occasionally stealing the spotlight. Between 1450 and 1750, the interconnected world saw incredible shifts in how societies operated due to economic advances. Picture the Eastern and Western Hemispheres high-fiving over newfound connections, leading to global trade that was smoother than a jazz saxophone solo.

With goods, ideas, and technology fluttering across the oceans like carrier pigeons (only much fancier), agricultural structures evolved. The world’s reliance on farming didn't disappear; instead, it got a tech upgrade. Sumptuous empires tightened their grip, and power conflicts bubbled over like a spicy stew.

What made this transoceanic tea party possible? A perfect blend of economic ambition, technological innovation, and political maneuvering.

Economically, Western Europe had a trade itch and going overseas was the perfect scratch. Technologically, new navigation tools like the compass and astrolabe made ocean voyages as manageable as driving a bumper car. Seafarers mapped wind patterns and ocean currents like pros, making maritime adventures safer and more precise. Politically, European colonies were like those pesky neighbor kids who kept borrowing sugar—and never seemed to leave.

But it wasn’t just about swapping spices and textiles. The Columbian Exchange—named after a certain Christopher Columbus, who was the ultimate mix-up artist—was a massive cultural exchange bonanza. It featured humans, religion, technology, and yes, even diseases, moving between continents like they were at a global block party. Indigenous populations grappled with smallpox, measles, malaria, and yellow fever (not fun party favors), leading to tragic spikes in mortality rates. Europeans didn’t escape unscathed, with syphilis making an unwelcome entrance.

Why stick to farming? Because, like your favorite cozy sweater, it remained essential for the world's productivity.

Agricultural innovations turned out to be real game-changers. Techniques like crop rotation and the heavy plow increased productivity like a boost in a video game. Suddenly, more people could sustain themselves, and agriculture continued to be the primary job market—though, unlike today, without the option to work from home. 🌾

Agricultural labor got a massive remix. The demand for raw materials and finished products skyrocketed, leading to intensified traditional practices and new approaches. For better or worse, colonies leaned heavily on the Atlantic slave trade, showing humanity’s darker side in brutal and inhumane conditions fueled by European and American buyers.

Gender structures faced a shake-up. As farming shifted from hand-to-mouth subsistence to commercial cash cropping, traditional roles did a cha-cha-cha. Men increasingly focused on lucrative cash crops like tobacco and sugar, relegating women to domestic tasks and household management. In Africa, the gender imbalance caused by the slave trade forced women and children into non-traditional roles and eroded family structures.

Social structures braced for a roller-coaster ride. The middle class in Europe hustled hard, turning landownership into wealth and power. Meanwhile, landless laborers slipped further into poverty. The shift towards commercial agriculture displaced many rural communities, stripping away communal lands that had once been their safety nets. This upheaval often sparked social conflicts, riots, and revolutions.

The environment didn’t get a pass, either. Aggressive cultivation of cash crops led to deforestation and degraded biodiversity. Aquatic ecosystems suffered as water management for agriculture impacted underwater habitats.

If the empires were characters in a soap opera, their story arcs would involve relentless expansion.

Spain and Portugal kickstarted the colonization race, conquering the Aztec and Inca empires, and setting up shop in Mexico, Florida, and various parts of South America. By 1607, the English had established the first successful colony at Jamestown, Virginia. The French, Dutch, and English were also busy claiming pieces of the Americas. Africa saw European trading posts, while Asia featured Dutch footholds in Indonesia and British colonies in India.

European leaders craved financial security like a dragon hoards gold. Enter mercantilism—the belief that a nation’s wealth and power were tied to its treasure chest. Nations ramped up exports and minimized imports, using colonies for resources and markets. Mercantilism paved the golden road to capitalism, shaping economies and international relations for centuries.

Competition among major empires was hotter than a summer barbecue, sparking several conflicts:

• The French and Indian War (1754-1763) was a tug-of-war over the Ohio River Valley between British and French colonies, with their Native American allies picking sides. The British won, claiming Canada and much of the Ohio Valley.
• The Seven Years’ War (1756-1763) was the original world war, featuring battles in Europe, North America, and India. Britain emerged victorious, snatching French territories in Canada, India, and the Caribbean.
• The Dutch-Portuguese War (1581-1661) saw these two duking it out for control of trade routes and colonies. The Treaty of The Hague finally set the boundaries, with the Dutch ruling the East Indies and the Portuguese holding Brazil.
• The Anglo-Mughal Wars (1686-1757) involved the British East India Company wrestling with the Mughal Empire, leading to British control over parts of India.

To ace your exam, get cozy with these terms:

• Agriculture: Cultivating plants and raising animals for sustenance and trade.
• Atlantic Slave Trade: The trade system where Africans were enslaved and shipped to the Americas.
• Aztec Empire: Mesoamerican civilization known for its rich culture and impressive architecture.
• Biodiversity: Variety of life in different habitats, crucial for ecological health.
• Cash Crops: Crops grown for profit, like tobacco and sugar, rather than local consumption.
• Columbian Exchange: The exchange of plants, animals, culture, and diseases between the Old and New Worlds post-Columbus.
• Commercial Revolution: Period of European economic expansion, colonialism, and mercantilism.
• Mercantilism: Economic theory that wealth is tied to gold and silver reserves, with colonies fueling national wealth.
• Social Structures: Organized patterns of relationships and social arrangements in societies.

Did you know the term “mercantilism” comes from the Latin word for merchant? This era was truly about doing business—on a global scale!

There you have it, a comprehensive look at the roller-coaster ride that was 1450 to 1750! This period was marked by dynamic changes and continuity in trade, agriculture, and empire-building, setting the stage for the modern world. Now go ace your AP World History exam, armed with the knowledge of empires, trade, and transformation! 🌐📚