End of Feudalism, the Growth of Trade and the Commercial Revolution The Rise of Europe End of Feudalism, the Growth of Trade and the Commercial Revolution
Impact of the Crusades Exploration cultural interactions Interaction with world Four S’s Exploration cultural interactions More trade routes Growth of towns Concentrated in urban centers
What does stability and peace lead to? Pax Mongolia What does stability and peace lead to? Open trade routes
Zheng He and Ibn Battuta What impact would these men have had?
Who is going to control the trade routes into Europe? After the Crusades goods, goods, and more goods are showing up from Asia via the Silk Road. Who is going to control the trade routes into Europe?
Italian City-States - Venice, Florence, Naples - Silk Road trading hubs - Located on Mediterranean Sea - Developed urban centers Who would be the wealthiest and most powerful citizenry?
Portuguese and Spanish Spice Trade Leads to Age of Exploration Attempt to break Venice’s monopoly on spices Monarchs invest $$ for exploration Spanish and Portuguese compete for global monopolies
Goal… Reach the Spice Islands – Why? How do we get there?
Early exploration of new trade routes
The Commercial Revolution’s Effects
Commercial Revolution Changes in business and trade practices in Europe Overseas trade Banking Changing social structure Rise of the middle class
The creation of new business practices coincide with the rise of exploration
Growth of towns and the middle class Urbanization Three field system = more food Population boom Dirty, unplanned cities How do you go to the bathroom? Towns offered economic opportunities What would this lead to? “Town air makes you free”
Guilds A group of people with the same occupation Like a union Controlled wages, prices, and quality of goods in field Only “masters” could join guild Apprentice journeyman master Other examples… Silversmiths, goldsmiths, tailors, winemakers, druggists, glassmakers, wheelwrights
What is the downside to capitalism? Rise of Capitalism Economic system Based on private ownership and investment of wealth For profit Governments no longer sole owners of wealth Rise of the… Merchants… People invest $ in trade, companies, businesses What is the downside to capitalism?
New Business Practices Joint Stock Company People pool $$ for common purpose ($$$) Like a modern day company You own stocks, or shares, of a company How do you gain or lose money?
What’s the point of these cartoons?
Social Changes Plague… Merchants & Bankers rise in status Why? Larger middle class More stable economies No more serfs/knights Increase in social mobility
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