CCOT Essay Analyze the social and economic continuities and transformations that occurred in the Atlantic world as a result of new contacts among Western Europe, Africa, and the Americas from 1492-1750.

Patterns of Interaction at the Beginning of Time Period Americas were isolated from the rest of the world and all the Afro-Eurasian advances Asia was the powerhouse of the world and dominated trade (especially Arabs and Indians – China had recently withdrawn from trade) European interest in spice trade led to overseas exploration

Social and Economic Continuities What is staying the same during this time period? Patriarchies (male dominated societies) – European values imposed on Americas Spread of religions is constant (Christianity) Importance of corn, beans, squash in providing food in Americas

Social Changes Social classes in Americas based on race Slave trade Peninsulares, creoles, mestizos/mulattoes, Native Americans and Africans Slave trade Led to decreased population in Africa Weakened remaining African civilizations and hurt the potential rise of new ones Spread of disease (smallpox) Decimated Native American populations Encomienda system further decreased populations

Social Changes Christianity blends with traditional Native American and African beliefs Voudou in Haiti Santeria in Cuba Gods replaced by saints, but some old traditions remain (e.g. bloodletting)

Economic Changes Mercantilism Columbian Exchange Triangular trade Europeans grow wealthy at the expense of colonies/Native Americans and Africans Columbian Exchange Spread of plants, animals, ideas between Europe, Africa and Americas Triangular trade Facilitated mercantilism and Columbian Exchange Global economy

Global Context What is going on during this time period that is allowing these changes and continuities to take place? Rise of and competition among nation-states in Europe (eventual rise of absolute monarchs) Protestant Reformation and rise of Ottoman Empire led to expansion of Catholicism in Americas Advanced weapons of Europeans (guns, germs, and steel) allowed colonization (a result of geography)

Sample Thesis As Europeans came to economically dominate trans-Atlantic trade, their influence over the social customs of Native Americans and Africans also expanded.

Sample Thesis While Europeans benefitted from the expansion of economic activities into the Americas, this era of trade and conquest brought about social changes to the populations and customs of Native Americans and Africans.

Sample Thesis As Europeans came to economically dominate trans-Atlantic trade, their influence over the social customs of Native Americans and Africans also expanded.

Intro (Thesis) Over the course of this time period, Europeans exerted increasing economic dominance over the Americas and Africa, which led to many social changes within the Atlantic world.

Don’t forget to analyze!! Make sure that you are not only stating what the changes and continuities are, but also WHY they happened.