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Population Growth
From 1700 to 1800 the population nearly doubled in Europe. Population growth happened due to lower death rate due to a lack of disease. This increase meant that people needed to discover ways to provide more food. The population growth meant that more people were available to work which meant there were enough people to farm a good amount of food. -
Invention of the Seed Drill
Jethro Tull refined the Seed Drill during the Agricultural Revolution. This invention is an example of the many improvements in farming made during the 1700s. Inventions like the seed drill helped to make farming easier and more successful which in turn made food cheaper. Population increase, rising wages, and cheaper food all helped to improve the standard of living and wealth of people in Europe during the 1700s. -
Treaty of Union
Scotland and England unify to become the United Kingdom of Great Britain. After this Treaty was ratified the parliaments at Westminster and Edinburgh was replaced by a single Parliament of Great Britain. The two countries had shared a single monarch since 1603 in the Union of Crowns (King James VI of Scotland inherited the English throne). The creation of Great Britain was important in helping this land develop as a maritime power later on. -
Peace of Utrecht
The Peace of Utrecht was signed between April 1713 and February 1715. The Peace of Utrecht ended the War of Spanish Succession. The results of this treaty included; Spain lost a lot of land and, in the Americas, France gave Great Britain land from their colonies.This trading of land foreshadowed who the major powers would be later on. -
Mughals Concede Trading Privileges
The Mughals conceded empire-wide trading privileges in 1716. This allowed Great Britain to have a stronger grasp on trade with Asia. The British East India company also intervened in local affairs in order to support their economic interests. This event allowed great Britain to have powerful control over Indian and American trade. -
Charles Townshend Invents Crop Rotation
Townshend left politics in 1730 in order to innovate farming on his land. Townshend discovered the idea of rotating crops on a four year bases and using clover and turnips as two of the crops. The enclosure movement and the crop rotation system helped improve farming a lot. These innovations increased the yield of harvest and, because livestock could feed on clover, they no longer needed to be slaughtered before the winter months which meant they improved in quantity and quality. -
Seven Years War
The Seven Years War lasted from 1756 to 1763. This war was a part of a larger war that had been going on between England and France for many years. The Seven Years War ended their rivalry with Great Britain winning. The Treaty of Paris (1763) established the end of the war and gave Great Britain all of France's remaining territory in North America. This and the Navigation Acts were important events that helped make Great Britain the leading country in shipping and foreign trade. -
Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations
Adam Smith wrote the Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations in 1776. Adam Smith wrote this book in order to establish the idea of freedom of enterprise. This idea is when products, prices, and services are determined by the people, not the government. His book established the future of the economy in Europe. -
Atlantic Slave Trade
The peak of the Atlantic Slave trade occurred in 1780. The Atlantic Slave Trade was the name for the system of people being taken from Africa and transported across the Atlantic and becoming slaves in America. The Atlantic Slave Trade helped in the development of the American colonies, but was horrible for the African people who were kidnapped. The slave trade also created complicated new identities due to the mixing of races. -
Smallpox Cure Invented
The smallpox cure was invented in 1796 by Edward Jenner. This cure was an example of the many advancements made during the 1700s. The vaccine also helped increase population growth in the future by helping to prevent disease. This vaccine also helped to show people the power of medicine.
