Changes in Europe
European exploration and increased trade stimulated a global exchange, a
commercial revolution and other changes in Europe.
Fill in the missing words or phases in the outline of section 5.
I. A Global Exchange
A. New Foods
1. From the Americas to Europe:
2. From Europe, Asia and Africa to the Americas
B. New food crops contributed to:
C. Migration of people and ideas
D. Tragedy for:
II. A Commercial Revolution
A. Europe experiences
due to population growth and
B. Growth of capitalism
C. New business methods, such as the
D. Bypassing the guilds
III. Mercantilism
A. Mercantilism holds that exports should:
B. Colonies exist for the benefit of the
C. Increasing national wealth
IV. The Lives of Ordinary People
A. Peasants were still the majority; their lives
B. Growing cities were home to great differences in wealth and power
C. Nuclear families were the norm
D. Women’s chief roles were:
Briefly define each of the following terms.
Inflation:
Capitalism:
Entrepreneur:
Joint Stock Company:
Mercantilism:
Tariff:
Changes in Europe
• How did European explorations lead to a global exchange?
• What impact did the commercial revolution and mercantilism have on European
economies?
• How did these changes affect ordinary people?
The Columbian Exchange
When Columbus returned to
Spain in 1493, he brought
with him “new” plants and
animals. Later that year, he
returned to the Americas
with some 1,200 settlers and
a collection of European
animals and plants.
In this way, Columbus began
a vast global exchange that
would have a profound effect
on the world.
A Commercial Revolution
The opening of direct links with Asia, Africa, and the Americas had far-reaching
economic consequences for Europeans.
Prices began to rise in Europe, as part of the cycle of
.
European inflation had several causes:
•
As the population grew, the demand for goods and services
.
•
Because goods were scarce, sellers could raise their prices.
•
The
flow of gold and silver from the Americas led to more money in
circulation.
Expanded trade and the push for overseas empires spurred the growth of European
, the investment of money to make a profit.
.
and capitalists made up a new business class. Together they helped
change the local European economy into an international trading system.
Mercantilism
European monarchs adopted a new economic policy, known as
at strengthening their national economies.
, aimed
According the mercantilism, a nation’s real wealth is measured in its
and silver
treasure. To build its supply of gold and silver, a nation must export more goods than it
imports.
Overseas empires and colonies existed for the
of the parent nation. Rulers
needed to adopt policies to increase national wealth and government revenues.
To achieve these goals, European governments
•
passed strict laws regulating
with their colonies.
•
exploited natural
, built roads, and backed new industries.
•
sold monopolies to large producers in certain areas.
•
Imposed
, or taxes on imported goods.
How Did Economic Changes Affect Europeans?
The impact of economic change depended on a person’s social class.
•
Merchants who
in overseas ventures acquired wealth.
•
Nobles, whose wealth was in land, were hurt by the
revolution.
•
Hired workers in towns and cities faced poverty and discontent when their wages
did not keep up with inflation.
•
Peasants, the
of Europeans, were not affected until centuries later.
Within Europe’s growing cities, there were great differences in wealth and power.
Section 5 Assessment
Which of the following was not an effect of the Columbian Exchange?
a) Enslaved Africans were sent to the Americas.
b) American foods were introduced into Europe.
c) Capitalism grew.
d) Columbus arrived in the Americas.
Which was a cause of European inflation?
a) a decrease in population
b) an increase in the need for goods and services
c) a decrease in the amount of money in circulation
d) an overabundance of goods