January 20, 2015 Blog #1

Intro to part four:

An Early Modern Era?
In the "early modern era" the most obvious expression of globalization was in the oceanic journeys of European explorers and the European conquest and colonial settlement of the Americas. The Atlantic slave trade linked Africa to the Western Hemisphere, while the global silver trade allowed the Europeans to use the New World's metals to purchase their way into the ancient Asian trade routes (Strayer 611). This exposed the diseases, people, animals, and plants causing it to be known as the Columbian exchange. This created a network of interaction across the Pacific and Atlantic ocean with global implications. Christianity was then carried by the missionaries all throughout Europe making it become the world religion (Strayer 611).

In later generations the thought of "modernity" appeared in multiple places around the world. The most obvious modern sign was the cultural development that took place in Europe where the Scientific Revolution transformed. Europe was not the only one that experienced modern growth, China, Japan, and India experienced it as well.They experienced the population growth when Eurasia recovered from the Black Death and Mongol wars and as the American food provided nutrition (Strayer 611-12).

A Late Agrarian Era?
Many Europeans ruled the Americas and took control of the sea routes. The Europeans were soon to be taking over the planet. Human economies was powered by animal and human muscles, wind, and water. None of this new technology like factory based production or steam power were displaced for them(Strayer 612-13). No matter where they were leadership was provided and so was privileges. There was no parties that controlled the govern, there were Kings and nobles that did that. Now, some people want to live like it was in the earlier ways such as following traditional principles rather than having to deal with what is new.

Chapter 13: Political Transformations
 Europeans hold a significant geographical advantage over the rest of the world particularly Asia due to its location. It is closer to the Americas as suppose to the potential Asian competitors furthermore the fixed winds of the Atlantic blew steadily in the same direction. Therefore allowing mastering of navigation and air currents to the American continents. Furthermore due to the flourishing markets of the Indian ocean and its rich natural resources there was no incentive for Asians and Middle-Eastern peoples to venture across their borders.
Due to European superiority having conquered Africa and some parts of Asia the colonists were exposed and have developed immunity towards foreign diseases. Upon to their arrival Americas, the Native Americans were long isolated from the Afro-Eurasian and Asiatic endemics causing a great population decline as they were incapable of combating disease (90% of the population was lost), thus giving the Europeans a great advantage in conquering the American peoples.
Hence, due to the severe loss of Native Americans, there was an acute labor shortage. However, this allowed for the importation of slaves from Africa, and the colonists to flow into the American continents. Along with the influx of inhabitants, trade was administered between all colonies, bringing in a variety of plants, livestock and peoples; transforming the landscape to adhere the European way of life.