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Agricultural Revolution
The Agricultural Revolution was a lengthy event that lasted from 1650-1850. During this period, humans discovered planting techniques to avoid depleting fertile soil through repeated agricultural use. This innovative process involved rotating crops in fields in order to restore nitrogen levels in the soil. This event greatly affected the European economy as it allowed for surpluses of crops. This granted European countries the ability to export these materials to colonies and other nations. -
Period: to
18th Century Europe
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Navigation Acts
During the period of 1651 to 1663, a series of laws known as the Navigation Acts were passed in England. This set of acts would remain in practice during the entire length of the 18th century thus influencing the development of European trade. The Navigation Acts were designed to bolster England's role in international trade practices. Ultimately, these laws caused England to become an economic power and overtake the Netherlands as the most successful European nation in terms of trade. -
Atlantic Slave Trade
During the period from 1701-1800, the Atlantic slave trade intensified to its highest level. Approximately 6.5 million Africans were kidnapped and sent to the Americas to labor during length of time. This rise in slave labor began to become incorporated in English trade policies as England used slaves to farm crops and gather raw materials. These products were then sent to England for manufacturing purposes. This began to create a very unfortunate reliance on slave labor in English colonies. -
Peace of Utrecht
In 1713, France was forced to gift England it's North American colonies in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and the Hudson Bay territory after a military defeat. This allowed England to further pursue a policy of mercantilism. England sent their manufactured products to both North and South America and received raw materials like sugar from their colonies. Due to this process, England began to foster one of the strongest economies in the world. -
European Population Explosion Begins
In 1720, Europe saw a massive population increase. The primary reason for this phenomenon was the decline of the Black Death. Before the 18th century, Europe consistently faced different forms of the plague. After 1720, Europe suddenly saw a disappearance of the bubonic plague due to unknown reasons.This allowed for almost all European nations to observe a huge population increase as citizens were no longer being killed by this disease. -
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution describes the period in time in which European nations began to use machinery to create products. During this length of time, a number of beneficial results were created due to this industrialization. Specifically, products were being created at extremely quick rates thus improving work productivity. Additionally, the Industrial Revolution caused a mass transfer of Europeans to urban areas instead of the previous norm of existing in rural regions. -
The Enclosure Movement
From the period of 1760 to 1815, Parliament passed a number of acts that finished enclosing most of the English land. The Enclosure Movement began as early as the late 1600s but was not ultimately complete until the early 1800s. This movement separated land into individual plots which usually favored the wealthy class by granting them the most area to cultivate. Peasants were negatively affected by the Enclosure movement as they no longer held land to use and had to rely on the wealthy for jobs. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris officially ended the Seven Years' War between France and Britain. Due to this treaty, Britain was gifted almost all French territory in North America. The ceding of this land granted Britain the Americas thus strengthening their power worldwide. This
proved Britain was one of if not the most powerful of all European nations. -
"Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of Wealth of Nations"
In 1776, Adam Smith published his novel titled "Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of Wealth of Nations". In his book, Smith expressed his support for economic liberalism. This concept is that competitive, free markets will improve the lives of citizens and is vastly superior to government regulated markets. Smith's idea became widely influential in Europe and was practiced in most European nations by the middle of the nineteenth century. -
Abolition of French Guilds
In 1776, the French reform minister abolished all guilds in France. This was due to the discriminatory practice many guilds held when dealing with both women and peasants. During the Enlightenment period, individuals argued against any societal exclusion thus guilds were seen as outdated and primitive. This cultural change of view of guilds ultimately led to their eradication.
