chapter 13: political transformations

Political Transformations 1450-1750

• European Empires in the Americas 
• Europeans innovated mapmaking, navigation, sailing techniques, and ship design where they got their ideas from earlier models from various regions. I think these innovations continued to progress for better trade and marketing among countries. This also created competing states for wealth and opportunities. In addition to opportunities, Christendom wanted to expand as well, according to a Spanish conquistador. Their technology was advancing by being able to cross oceans without a problem and trading many supplies. Technology in ironworking was also advancing due to gunpowder weapons, where it was a high demand from people in the Americas. What I find the most significant in European advantages were the number of diseases spread to Native Americans, which eventually killed them. Climate change seems to be a big deal throughout this time where many people died due to weather changes in different parts of the world. As the Little Ice Age was a devastation for many people, it also made room for immigrants coming into the Americas. Other newcomers were plants and animals that helped people in their daily life. One example would be that domesticated animals made ranching possible for economies to grow. The transportation of domesticated animals also made survival easier in their life where they can eventually reproduce and can be used for food, hunting, and other benefits. On the other hand, tobacco and chocolate were also becoming popular in the Americas. There was also the spreading of teas and coffees. I personally find this section fascinating because I love drinking coffee! All the trading and production reshaped the economy to where it is today. 
• Comparing Colonial Societies in the Americas
• As the Spanish conquistadors conquered lands, many of the Spanish married and raped Native American and African women. The Spanish settlers were very politically and economically dominant. Spanish women were seen as weak and in need of male protection. As these were earlier times, I still find it incredible that many would look down on women, even though they produced one's child. The Spanish did find this to be important among women but they believed in pure Spanish blood. They believed that the problem with women was that there were very few of them and the fact that they didn't want them to have a mixed-race population.