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Beginning of Atlantic Slave Trade
The Atlantic Slave Trade grew out of an increased demand for labor. The majority of this labor was in European colonies. The slave trade uprooted Africans and forced them to complete labor to meet this demand. The economic growth that occurred as a result of the slave trade represented change for Europe and its colonies. -
Great Britain was formed
England and Scotland united to form one power. Great Britain eventually became the leading maritime power. This shift created change in Europe, as the British played a critical role in building a unified Atlantic economy. This economy offered new and remarkable opportunities to the British and their colonists. -
A ship brought the plague to Marseilles
As late as 1721, a ship from Syria and the Levant, brought the plague to Marseilles. Nearly half of the city died and the disease swept southern France. This demonstrates continuity in European society. Even at this late date, Europe still struggled with disease and the effects it brought. -
Expansion of Rural Industry in France
The special privileges of urban manufacturing were severely restricted in France, and the already developing rural industry was given free rein from then on. This occurred because the French government had come to believe that the best way to help the poor in the countryside was to encourage the growth of cottage manufacturing. This represents change in European society. France under Colbert had revived the urban guilds, but turned to cottage industry when rural poverty continued to increase. -
A high court "doomed the slave status in England"
This was the beginning of the end of slavery in Europe. It represented the culmination of anti-slavery feelings in England. When slaves ran away, the courts and the poor often supported the slave. London had a growing population of free and escaped blacks and unions between blacks and whites were fairly common. So, this court ruling was really just a continuation of these sentiments that would be taken even further in 1807 when Parliament would abolish the British slave trade. -
England's woolen cloth industry declined
By 1773, England was selling only about two-thirds as much woolen cloth to northern and western Europe as it had in 1700. This decline was due to the protectionist, mercantilist policies of other countries as they attempted to exclude competing goods from abroad. These policies were a result of expanding efforts to develop cottage textile industries in other areas of Europe. This change represents a shift in labor, which also affects society and the economy. -
Smith wrote his "Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations"
Adam Smith promoted freedom of enterprise in foreign trade. This book discussed the benefits of free trade over mercantilist policies. This book was representative of the strong reaction against mercantilism. And, it demonstrated the beginning of shifting economic policies. -
Invention of the Mule for Cotton Spinning
Samuel Crompton invented this device. It made the process of spinning cotton to make cloth faster and more efficient. This allowed for the further expansion of cottage industry. This expansion of cottage industry changed the economy by giving peasants a steady and productive job. -
Modification of the Navigation Acts
The Navigation Acts in England required that goods imported from Europe into England and Scotland be carried on British-owned ships or on the ships of the country producing the goods. These laws gave British merchants a monopoly on trade with British colonies. This created growth in Britain's economy, changing the pattern of trade in Europe. These acts gave Britain an advantage over other countries when it came to trade. -
Inoculation for Smallpox was created
Edward Jenner began developing a vaccine for smallpox. This represented the beginning of a huge shift in European culture. It was one of the first advancements in preventive medicine. This inoculation reduced deaths throughout Europe and contributed to the mortality decline.
