1450-1750“A tremendous expansion of commercial,

cultural, and biological exchanges around the world”

Major changes from previous era:• Introduction of the Americas as a cultural, political,

and economic force• Establishment of large empires: Spanish,

Portuguese, French, and British• African slavery in the Americas began a large

cultural exchange• The printing press spread ideas quickly as literacy

improved in North America and Europe• By 1750 the balance of power had shifted from East

to West.

The Americas

Formation of the United States and Canada

Portuguese in Brazil, Spanish in the rest of Latin America

Brazil is world’s main source of sugar 1600

Dutch bring slavery and sugar to West Indies

Silver is discovered in Bolovia French and Indian War (1754-1763)

Europe

1500-1600 Spain’s Golden Century 1519 Protestant Reformation/Catholic

Reformation Scientific Revolution 1618-1648 Thirty Years’ War 1700-1800 Enlightenment 1600-1700 Netherlands’ Golden Century Power shifts in Europe’s favor as they

militarize competitively

Africa

1505 Portuguese begin assault on Swahili cities

1591 Morocco conquers Songhai Empire 1640s expansion of transatlantic slave

trade 1750-1800 growing slave trade reduces

population

Middle East

1520-1566 reign of Suleiman the Magnificent (Ottoman sultan)

1683 Last Ottoman seige of Vienna 1722 Fall of Safavid Empire 1718 Ottoman military decline Taj Mahal is built

Asia and Oceania

1526 Mughal Empire begins 1556 rule of Akbar begins 1592 Japan invades Korea 1603 Tokugawa Shogunate founded in

Japan 1639 “Closing” of Japan 1644 Qing Empire begins in China 1691 British begin trading post at

Calcutta