European Imperialism Global Studies 9 Mrs. Hart and Mrs. Bernier.

European Imperialism

Global Studies 9Mrs. Hart and Mrs. Bernier

The Atlantic Slave Trade

In the 1500s, the Europeans began to import slaves from Africa to the Americas. But the use of slaves was nothing new. For centuries, the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Persians, Indians and Aztecs often enslaved the people they conquered. The Arab empire also used slave labor.

Causes of the Slave Trade

• The Spanish had to fill the need for labor in their empire in the Americas.

• Huge and profitable business.

• African rulers traded their own people for goods they wanted from the Europeans.

Goods slaves weretraded for:• textiles•metalwork•rum•tobacco•weapons•gunpowder

Triangular Trade The triangular trade was a three-legged trade

network between Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

The Middle Passage

The second leg of the triangular trade was called the Middle Passage. The voyage from Africa to the Americas was horrific. Africans were packed below deck on slave ships that became “floating coffins”. The slaves were all but starved. Dehydration, disease, and diarrhea were common. Some Africans tried to seize control of the ship, while others leaped overboard, committing suicide.

Impacts of the Slave Trade

1. More than 11 million Africans were brought to the Americas,

and another 2 million died on the voyage .2. Some African kingdoms

declined and others became more powerful from the riches the slave trade brought in.

3. The loss of countless numbers of talented, brilliant young African men and women.

The Spanish Empire When the Spanish established their empire

in the Americas, they brought with them their culture as well.

• Government – the king ran his colonies using his representatives known as viceroys.

• Religion – the Catholic Church worked to convert thousands of Native Americans.• Encomienda system – a conquistador was

granted land along with permission to demand labor from Native Americans.

• Language – many Native Americans learned Spanish, and eventually some Native American and African words worked their way into the Spanish language.

Social Classes

The Columbian Exchange

Commercial Revolution The opening of direct links with Asia, Africa, and the Americas

had far-reaching economic consequences. Among them was a Commercial Revolution.

• Trade expanded, spurring the growth of capitalism (the investment of money to make a profit).

• Entrepreneurs organized, managed, and risked starting new businesses.

• A new business class emerged, devoted to making money.

Mercantilism

With competition for trade and overseas empires fierce, European countries adopted an economic policy known as mercantilism. Under this policy, a nation’s wealth was measured in how much gold and silver it had. Colonies existed for the benefit of the mother country only. Colonies could not set up their own industries, could not trade with other European nations, and had to buy goods from thee mother country.

Effects of Mercantilism• European governments

exploited the natural resources of their colonies. They exported them from the colonies to their own countries.

• In the colonies they sold finished products that had been made in the mother country.

• Governments imposed tariffs on imported goods in order to discourage people from buying from foreign competitors.

• European countries became the most powerful nations globally. • European expansion spread goods and European culture throughout the world.