Ap Euro Unit 3 Review Exam

Introduction to the Agricultural Revolution -

Definition: A historical period marked by the mechanization of agriculture, increasing food production, and population growth.

- Starting Date: The beginnings of agricultural changes trace back to the 1500s with the enclosure movement, which significantly altered land use in England and paved the way for modern agriculture.

### Mechanization of Agriculture

- Key Development: Mechanization allows for significant increases in food production starting in the 18th century, with inventions such as the seed drill by Jethro Tull (1701).

- Result: Increased food supply leads to population growth; for instance, the population of England grew from approximately 5 million in 1700 to 9 million in 1801.

### New Crops from the New World

- Staple Crops: Introduction of potatoes and corn as major food sources, notably after the Columbian Exchange in the late 15th century and the 16th century.

- These crops thrive in European climates and provide a new starch-based diet.

- Impact: The adoption of these new crops correlates with further population growth; by the 18th century, the potato became a staple in countries like Ireland, dramatically impacting their demographics.

### Socioeconomic Factors Influencing Population Growth

- End of the Black Plague: The ongoing waves of the plague dissipated by the mid-17th century, allowing populations to recover.

- Climatic Changes: The end of the Little Ice Age around the mid-18th century contributed to agricultural stability and growth.

- Resulting Trends: More food results in higher prices (Price Revolution) due to increased demand; significant inflation in the late 16th to early 17th centuries.

- Population growth leads to a greater demand for goods, driving up prices and supporting industrial growth. ### The Role of Silver and Economic Theories

- Spanish Contributions: Influx of silver and gold from the New World, particularly post-1492, exacerbates inflation, contributing to economic changes throughout Europe.

- Economic Theory: Development of mercantilism, particularly in the 17th century.

- Definition: An economic system focused on maximizing exports over imports to accumulate wealth.

- Goal: To increase national wealth, primarily through gold bullion.

### Capitalist Practices Emerging

- Rise of Entrepreneurs: Growth of the middle class during the 18th century and advent of national banks facilitate centralized power and economic growth.

- Increased Military Expenditure: Kings like Louis XIV (reigned 1643-1715) could afford organized armies and advanced weaponry, paving the way for professional armies.

### The Putting-Out System

- Definition: A decentralized production system that dates back to the 1700s, involving home-based piecemeal production.

- Expansion of Output: Families work together, producing goods that respond to market demands.

- Evolution: This system eventually gives way to industrialization and factory systems in the late 18th century.

### Commercial Revolution and Growth of the Middle Class

- Factors Leading to Growth: Expansion of trade in the 17th and 18th centuries, emergence of joint stock companies, and the establishment of a capitalist marketplace.

- Joint Stock Companies: Enabled investors to pool resources and minimize individual risk leading up to the 1600s.

### Transition in Trade Centers

- Shift from Mediterranean to Atlantic Trade: As economic centers of power move, especially by the 17th century, the English and Dutch emerge as leading trading powers.

- Decline of Italian city-states in favor of emerging northern nations, with Venice's influence waning.

### Key Figures in Mercantilism

- Jean Baptiste Colbert (1619-1683): Finance minister under Louis XIV; he promoted mercantilism in France in the 17th century.

- He aimed for France to maximize exports through raw materials sourced from colonies, contributing to France's economic strategy.

### Effects of the Columbian Exchange

- Exchange of Goods: Involves new world products (potatoes, tobacco) entering the Old World and vice versa, impacting food supply and culture from the late 15th century onward.

- Demographic Impact: Significant population decline of Native Americans due to European diseases (the great dying) following contact in the 1490s.

### Expansion of Slavery

- Origins: Began on a smaller scale in the early 16th century, expanded due to growing demand for agricultural products from the New World post-Columbian Exchange.

- Connection: Increased demand for labor in agriculture leads to the rise of slavery, particularly in plantation systems from the late 16th century.

### Mechanization and Industrialization

- Innovation in Textiles: Introduction of machinery like the flying shuttle (invented by John Kay in 1733) boosts textile production during the Industrial Revolution.

- Impact on Slavery: Increased demand for goods correlates with greater demand for enslaved labor, especially in cotton production during the 18th and 19th centuries.

### The Dutch Golden Age

- Historical Context: The Dutch revolted against Spanish control (80 Years’ War), gaining independence via the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648.

- Government Structure: A form of constitutionalism with a representative system developed in the late 16th to 17th centuries.

- Religious Tolerance: The Dutch Republic becomes home to various religious groups, contributing to its cultural richness by the 17th century.

### Decline of Dutch Power

- Factors in Decline: Involved competition with England and France, especially in trade, and wars over trade dominance in the late 17th century.

- Transition of Power: England rises as a naval and trade power following the decline of the Dutch merchant fleet by the late 18th century.

### Treaty of Utrecht and the Spanish Succession War

- Background: Charles IV of Spain dies without an heir (1700), leading to concerns over France and Spain merging under Louis XIV’s grandson.

- Outcomes: The Grand Alliance forms around 1701 to prevent French hegemony; England gains control of the slave trade through the Asiento contract in 1713.

- The treaty reshapes power dynamics in Europe, marking the rise of England as a significant power in the early 18th century.