3A.++Impact+Changing+Trade,+Tech,+&+Interactions

Analyze the impact of the changes in Trade, technology, and global interactions, such as the Columbian Exchange, the impact of guns, changes in shipbuilding and navigational devices

Table of Contents:
 * 1) Effects of Trade
 * 2) Effects of Technology
 * 3) Global Interactions
 * 4) Impact of Guns
 * 5) Changes in Shipbuilding
 * 6) Navigation

1. Trade >
 * During this period of time, a global economy was formed.
 * For the first time in history, people had options:
 * They could choose where they wanted to trade.
 * They could choose how they wanted to get there.
 * Sailing greatly improved providing a quick alternative to traditional Asian trading routes.
 * Trade was greatly impacted by advancements in technology:
 * Weapons:
 * Europeans especially had an advantage over their targets.
 * Take the Inca for example. They had very primative weapons (wood/stone) while their European conquerers had metal swords, even guns on their side.
 * Ships:
 * Again citing the Europeans, shipbuilding strived to new heights. Builders constructed huge ships to take on their voyages, and to explore the rest of the world with.
 * This allowed Europe to dominate the world. They set up huge trading networks throughout the world, and if the natives would not trade, they would be conquered.
 * The African Slave Trade
 * The New World needed workers, so Europeans ventured to Africa in search of them.
 * Slaves were sold as products.
 * A continued expansion of the European economy, as well as the global economy was linked to trade.

2. Technology
 * Europe was able to dominate the world because they understood the importance of many innovations.
 * __Gunpowder__ : Europe had guns, and those in the Americas did not.
 * Native Americans submiss to the Europeans.
 * __Superior Naval Technology__ : Europeans were expert shipbuilders.
 * Especially the Spainards / Portuguese.
 * Controlled Asian sea trading routes.
 * Able to explore the New World.
 * Connected Asia and Europe by sea.
 * __Superior Weapons__ :
 * Europe used metal weapons to conquer the Americas.
 * Native American had stone / wood weapons
 * __Disease__ :
 * Europe's exposure to domesticated animals provided immunity against the diseases associated with them.
 * The Americas did not have domesticated animals.
 * Suffered the consequences.
 * Much of the native population was wiped out.
 * Europeans had an even easier time of conquering the natives.
 * Emulates __Biological Warfare__ (though unintentional).

3. Global Interactions
 * The Columbian Exchange
 * Once the New World was discovered European powers exchanged goods back and forth.
 * Sugar and Silver were the most important products of the exchange.
 * Sugar needed slaves to be harvested.
 * Europe got slaves from __Africa__.
 * Spain controled the silver trade.
 * Spain traded silver with __Asia__.
 * The African Slave Trade
 * Europeans brought African slaves to the __New World__ to serve as workers.
 * __Money__ is the drving factor behind this network.
 * Eurpoeans wanted profits, and they had the power to dominate.
 * Responsible for much of the Carribean being of mostly African descent.
 * Encomienda system
 * Spain's new empire was divided very similarly to feudalism.
 * Established a heirarchy
 * Natives had very little freedom.
 * They were at the bottom of this heirarchy.
 * They were assigned hard labor.

4. Impact of Guns
 * Allowed Europeans to conquer foreign lands
 * Allowed them to control/enslave native peoples

5. Changes in Shipbuilding
 * Sternpost rudder
 * Lateen sail allowed European ships to said against the wind

6. Navigation
 * Advances in navigational technology allowed Europeans to explore open ocean.
 * Previously, they typically had to stay in sight of land.
 * Magnetic compass, sextant[[image:http://www.clipperlight.com/SEXTANTARTICLE/sextant2.jpg width="180" height="166" caption="Sextant"]]