Social: Topic 4

What is Eurocentrism?

A worldview that privileges European culture, history, and thought systems as superior, universal, or “normal.”

What is Ethnocentrism?

Believing your own culture is better or more important than others, and judging other cultures based on your own values.

What is Mercantilism?

An economic system where European governments controlled international trade to increase their country's wealth.

What is Cultural Contact?

When different cultures meet and interact, often leading to exchange, conflict, or adaptation.

What was The Silk Road?

The first major trade and communication highway connecting Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, spreading goods, ideas, religions, and technologies.

What was The Columbian Exchange?

The global transfer of crops, animals, people, and diseases between the Old World (Europe, Africa) and the New World (Americas) after 1492.

What is a Colony?

A territory controlled by another country, usually for economic gain and resource extraction.

What were Indigenous worldviews like before European contact?

Indigenous nations had unique cultures and languages, different political systems, and long-standing alliances. They valued harmony with nature and viewed land as shared and sacred.

What were European worldviews during the age of exploration?

Europeans competed for power, wealth, and resources, claimed new lands for monarchs, and aimed to spread Christianity and European values.

What fueled early international trade?

The demand for goods people didn’t have locally, like spices, silk, and precious metals.

What was transportation like in early trade?

Slow and difficult—travel relied on wind-powered boats, humans, and animals like horses and camels.

How did the Silk Road impact global connections?

It promoted trade, cultural exchange, and spread of inventions, religions, languages, and art between civilizations.

What religions spread through the Silk Road?

Buddhism spread from India to China and Japan, and Islam spread from the Middle East to South Asia.

How did the Indo-Arabic numbering system affect trade?

It allowed merchants to price goods and track inventory easily, helping trade become more efficient across regions.

What happened in Stage 1 of globalization?

Ancient trade routes like the Silk Road connected civilizations, and Arab societies shared Indian knowledge in science, medicine, and math with Europe.

What happened in Stage 2 of globalization?

Europeans built better ships and began global exploration during the “Age of Imperialism,” seeking power, wealth, trade, and to spread religion.

Who were some major European explorers?

Columbus, Magellan, Cortes, Champlain, Cartier, DeSoto, and Polo.

What is Imperialism?

When one country dominates another country’s economy, politics, and culture.

What happened in Stage 3 of globalization?

After World War II, global markets and communication grew rapidly, and new economic and political powers emerged.

What was traded during the Columbian Exchange?

Crops, animals, and goods were exchanged between Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

How did New World crops affect the world?

Crops like potatoes and corn boosted global nutrition and caused a population boom.

What was the Atlantic Slave Trade?

The forced transport of Africans to the Americas for labor, which shaped global economies and societies.

How did Europeans view trade under mercantilism?

As a zero-sum game—there could only be winners and losers, and they aimed to ensure Europe always “won.”

What role did colonies play in mercantilism?

Colonies supplied cheap raw materials to the home country, which refined them into finished goods and sold them back at higher prices.

Why couldn’t colonies trade freely?

They were banned from trading with other colonies and lacked the infrastructure to refine goods themselves—keeping them dependent on Europe.

What were the British and Dutch East India Companies?

Powerful mercantilist corporations that controlled trade between Europe, India, and China for over 250 years, protected by their navies.

How did these companies benefit their home countries?

They had trade monopolies, controlled markets and prices, and funneled profits back to fund wars, infrastructure, and national growth.

What were the Navigation Acts?

A series of English laws that regulated colonial trade, shipping, and commerce to favor Britain.

What trade restrictions did the Navigation Acts impose?

Colonies could only export products like tobacco and sugar to England or its colonies.

How did tariffs and duties affect colonial trade?

They made foreign goods more expensive, forcing colonists to buy British products.

What was the main goal of the Navigation Acts?

To boost Britain’s wealth, strengthen its industries, and keep colonies economically dependent.

Who benefited from mercantilism?

The European “mother countries” who gained wealth, power, and control.

How did colonies react to mercantilism over time?

By the 18th century, colonies—especially Britain’s American ones—began to resist. The tension led to the American Revolution in 1776.

How did Indigenous perspectives on trade differ from Europeans’?

Indigenous peoples valued balance and cooperation, while Europeans focused on profit and dominance.