Trade
What is trade, and why is it important for societies?
Trade involves the exchange of goods and services between individuals, communities, or countries, and it is essential for acquiring resources, goods, and services that are not locally available.
What is mercantilism, and when did it emerge as an economic theory?
Mercantilism is an economic system that emerged in Europe during the early modern period, emphasizing government intervention to promote national wealth through a favorable balance of trade
What are the main reasons for human migration?
move in search of work or economic opportunity, to join a family, or to study.
What is imperialism, and how does it differ from colonialism?
Imperialism refers to a policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force, while colonialism involves the settlement of people from a colonizing country in a new territory.
Who was John Calvin?
John Calvin was a French theologian, pastor and reformer in Geneva during the Protestant Reformation
What were the main goods traded along the Silk Road?
Silk, spices, precious metals, gems, and other luxury goods.
What were the main goals of mercantilist policies?
The main goals were to increase exports, accumulate gold and silver reserves, and maintain a positive balance of trade.
How did ancient civilizations like the Phoenicians and Polynesians navigate and explore vast expanses of the Earth?
They had no maps, no sextants, no compasses, and navigated by observing the ocean and sky, reading the stars and swells.
What were the main motivations behind European imperialism in the 19th and early 20th centuries?
Economic interests, such as access to raw materials and new markets, political competition between European powers, and the desire for prestige and national glory.
Who was Charles Montesquieu?
Charles Louis de Secondat, Baron de La Brède et de Montesquieu, generally referred to as simply Montesquieu, was a French judge, man of letters, historian, and political philosopher.
How did trade networks like the Silk Road and the Indian Ocean trade route contribute to the exchange of ideas and cultures between different civilizations?
They facilitated the spread of religions, philosophies, technologies, and artistic styles.
How did mercantilist policies influence European colonization efforts in the Americas?
They promoted the establishment of colonies as sources of raw materials and markets for manufactured goods.
Who were the great explorers of the Age of Discovery?
This time of exploration was led by such navigators as Christopher Columbus, John Cabot, Vasco de Gama, Amerigo Vespucci, Ferdinand Magellan, and Francis Drake.
How did the Industrial Revolution contribute to the rise of European imperialism?
It increased the demand for raw materials and created surplus goods that needed new markets, driving European nations to expand their empires.
Who was Eli Whitney?
Eli Whitney Jr. was an American inventor, widely known for inventing the cotton gin in 1793, one of the key inventions of the Industrial Revolution that shaped the economy of the Antebellum South.
What role did the Hanseatic League play in medieval trade?
It was a commercial and defensive confederation of merchant guilds and market towns that dominated trade in Northern Europe.
What role did colonial trade play in the mercantilist system?
Colonies were expected to provide raw materials to the mother country and serve as captive markets for its manufactured goods.
How did the Age of Exploration contribute to the spread of European influence and colonization around the world?
It led to the establishment of colonies, trade routes, and the exploitation of resources in various regions.
What role did technology, such as steamships and telegraphs, play in facilitating European imperialism?
They enabled faster communication and transportation, allowing European powers to control distant colonies more effectively.
Who was Vladimir Lenin?
Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, better known as Vladimir Lenin, was a Russian revolutionary, politician, and political theorist.
How did the discovery of sea routes to Asia by European explorers impact global trade patterns?
It led to the Age of Exploration and the establishment of new trade routes, increasing the flow of goods between Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas.
What were some common mercantilist policies implemented by European governments?
Tariffs, subsidies, monopolies, and navigation acts were commonly used to protect domestic industries and promote exports.
What were the main obstacles faced by Lewis and Clark during their expedition to explore the Louisiana Purchase territory?
Harsh weather, unfamiliar terrain, and encounters with Native American tribes.
How did the Scramble for Africa shape the continent's borders and societies?
European powers partitioned Africa among themselves, leading to artificial borders that often ignored ethnic and cultural divisions, resulting in conflicts and instability.
Who was Marie Curie?
Maria Salomea Skłodowska-Curie, known simply as Marie Curie, was a Polish and naturalised-French physicist and chemist who conducted pioneering research on radioactivity.