The Journey of England, France & Spain
As William Ellery Channing once said “Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage. The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict.” (Lewis) Just like the human spirit grows and becomes more powerful through conflict so does that of a nation. England, France and Spain had many conflicts both internally and internationally in order to become a World Power in the early modern period. The Scientific Revolution changed how Europeans thought about the physical universe. These innovative thought patterns propelled them into a path of progress, compelling them to make changes in not only their economic and political policies, but how they dealt with social matters as well. These changes transformed the individual from a member of a small group to that of a subject of a large nation-state.
The idea of absolutism, which became a buzz-word in European political circles after the restoration of the absolute monarchy in Spain, was the conductor of change Louis XIV used in implementing changes to the economic and political institutions in France. (Blänkner) Louis XIV, afraid of confrontation with aristocrats, developed a tactic through means of The Court of Versailles which cut their influence in the countryside while allowing him to increase his political power within all of France. During Louis XIV’s reign a series of wars initiated, not for religious purposes, but for the control of property and land in Europe, which cost him favor throughout Europe and the worst economic depression in the country’s history by the late 1600’s. (p. 421, Hause & Maltby)
The Essay on Political Legal And Economic Factors Of Ecuador
Political, Legal, and Economic Factors of Ecuador The Republic of Ecuador is officially a representative democracy, and its government is divided into three branches: the executive, legislative, and judicial, much like the government of the United States. It also has an autonomous electoral agency called the "Tribunal Supremo Electoral". The country is made up of 21 provinces, each of which is ...
Economic gain did not come as easy for England as other European countries. It wasn’t until the creation of a modern navy that England could keep up with the rest of Europe. England’s economic growth was based, in part, to it’s geographical advantages. With it’s numerous deep water ports and windward location England became a prime candidate naval exploration, the fastest way to travel on those days. By the eighteenth century London, England became the commercial center of the world, but a growing problem was emerging in the streets of London. In proportion to the increase in the countries wealth, the growth of its slums and poverty did as well. This proved to be true of the rest of the continent. The Old Regime, which divided people into categories called estates, realized that their was a social struggle growing among them. Much to the redistribution of wealth of nobility along with the implication of the economic theory of mercantilism. This theory encouraged countries to become self sufficient and measure wealth by gold and silver, rather than using a more contemporary system of calculating goods and services.
These social struggles along with the new idea of expanding trade by seas created many issues for Spain, England, and France. While Spain continued to focus most all its efforts in exploring central America, other European countries like England and France, focused on expanding trade Eastward. However, trade via land routes proved difficult and dangerous thus forcing them to search for an all-water route to India and Japan. As sea travel became more popular so did the dawn of a new type of economic exchange– Slavery.
The institution of the triangular trade was practiced by many European countries but the method was perfected by the British. The effects of this system profoundly impacted America in a way that has yet to be surpassed. With the triangular trade in place, Europeans found a way to get profit and power from the New World. Europeans traded textiles to the western coast of Africa which was then sold or bartered for slaves to take to the New World where they would be sold to plantation owners who would, in return, bring their agricultural products back to Europe. This system of economic gain did not come without a price, in fact, it cost many people their lives. With the intermingling of new cultures the spread of biological diseases killed many of the slaves and others living in the New World.
The Essay on Globalization: International Trade and World Trade Organization
1.Describe how the world economy is becoming more integrated than ever before. The global economy is becoming more integrated than ever before. The world trade organization (WTO), now has 153 countries involved in more than 95 percent of the world’s trade. The global economy is dominated by countries in three regions: Western Europe, North America, and Asia. Europe is economically to form he ...
This wasn’t the first time, however, that Europeans had to deal with infections and diseases during this time of expansion. Europeans had long since had to deal with the struggles of Smallpox, Typhus feavor, Typhoid feavor, and the Bubonic Plague. The conficts this had on the countries where these diseases were present was astounding. It rose the infant mortality, lowered life expectancy a great deal, and eventually drained the country of weatlth.
How European countries responded to conficts greatly imacted life in the New World. The triangular trade brought thousands of Africans to the Americas which further diversified the country while at the same time implimenting a class system. Not only did the arrival of Africans bring diversity, but it also set off an incressing amount of resentment and rebellious ways of thinking from slaves and others who disagreed with slavery. As we know, the effects of racisim continues to influence American society, and the hurt still remains in the hearts of those who were directly effected.
The path to power for Engand, France, and Spain was not an easy road. Each country endured many domestic struggles of diseases, social order, and economic depression in addition to internal conficts ending in a war as a result of greed and religious mindsets. However, just as William Ellery Channing said, conflicts are meant to make the spirit stronger.
