16th Century England Research Paper

In the 16th century, many nations in Europe are changed and profit by the many economic growths and changes taken place throughout that period of time. In England, a variety of rulers such as King Henry VIII, Queen “Bloody” Mary Tudor, and Queen Elizabeth I ultimately result in the decline of England’s wealth. Thus, resulting in England’s economics to decline with each reign. From trade in the Mediterranean Sea between the Middle East and Europe, an exchanging of ideas and products take place such as Greco Roman ideals. Another flourishing movement is the Renaissance Humanism throughout Europe, which results in a reform of education, religion, and social classes. With this rebirth movement results in the competition for political power and
the Catholic Church, which results in the Protestant Reformation. From the struggle of political power, came the Age of Exploration, which was an economic competition between the European countries reasoned by nationalism. As a result of the rapid settlements and trade, the Transatlantic slave trade was born. For the time period 1492-1700 there were many changes in western European economics including the Transatlantic slave trade and an emerging gap between the middle class and the poor, although these changes occurred, competitive nationaltism remained continuous throughout the era. From the economic competition between Spain, Portugal, England, and France came the development of the Transatlantic slave trade.
Since King Henry the Navigator of Portugal had three objectives which was to trade in the Atlantic Ocean, get involved in the slave trade with the Ottoman Empire, and obtain African gold, Portugal began to take control of the Mediterranean trade routes, also called the Silk Road. By obtaining control over the Canary Islands, Portugal was able to initiate the establishments of forts along the African coastline. Therefore, Portugal was able to start producing export goods from the forts along the coastline that ultimately led to the empowerment over the slave trade. Thus, Portugal’s economics increased with the money made from the slave trade and the other exported goods. This was a gradual since Portugal had to first establish forts along the African coastline to gain power and land, which led to the overtaking of the Mediterranean trade routes. Since the nations were competing economically, Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand sent Christopher Columbus to explore the new land that he discovered, collect information and observe characteristics of the land, and return to Spain with what he discovered. The discoveries led to Spain settling in the New World and South America. Since Spain began to claim land, which increased their nation economically by sending products from the foreign land to their native country, Portugal, England, and France began to
claim settlements in the New World. By claiming land, colonies were established and the development of plantations began to be a high paying form of business by producing exports that could be sent to their native land. This was a fast change because since the Europeans were in an economic competition, there was an urgency for fast development within their countries and the New World. From the establishment of plantations, Portugal realized the need for workers. Since the Portuguese had been involved in the slave trade between the Ottoman Empire, Portugal began to enslave the natives from Africa. This was a fast change since Portugal had been successful in owning slaves on their plantations in the Canary Islands and many Europeans had underpaid workers, owning slaves became cheap and convenient, saving money and time for European economics. As a result of the Transatlantic slave trade, the economy of England, France, Spain, and Portugal flourished, which aided in the development and economic growth of each European country. Also, from the Transatlantic slave trade, racism was born, which resulted in the disagreement between the north and the south in the New World, also known as America. Therefore, leading to the Civil War in North America. Due to monarchial support of the merchant class, rapid inflation of prices and a growing European population there became a larger gap between the rich and the poor during the 16th and 17th centuries. National monarchs raised taxes to support merchants and businessmen who were expanding colonies in the New World, in the name of their mother country. For example, conquistadors such as Cortes and Pizarro were sent to “New Spain,” to pave the way for encomienda and control the Native Americans in the name of Spain. This was a rapid change, which occurred because national armies could defend colonies from other nations and control the indigenous populations of new colonies who might threaten trade. New Spain yielded many new physical forms of wealth including cash crops and silver. Since there was an influx of mineral wealth in the hands of the merchant class, European businesses could charge more for goods and products because they knew some of the population could pay, however the lower classes could not. This was a slower change because new forms of silver coinage had to be minted and accepted by business owners. Furthermore, New World Spanish silver was only in the hands of the merchants and military classes. Therefore, poor people in western Europe and Spain became poorer. The population of Europe reached pre-plague numbers in the 16th and 17th centuries, this yielded an abundance of cheap labor for the farms so farm owners could pay the lower classes minimally while the monarchs raised taxes to fund exploration and religious wars. The population grew rapidly most likely due to religious support to protestant and catholic marriages, to new diet staples such as the potato and advancements in science which would have combatted diseases. The 16th and 17th centuries in Europe were marked by religious wars and competitive nations. Monarchs needed to raise taxes to pay for armies to fight in religious wars and defend and expand trade. This expansion of trade led prices to increase in western Europe and grew the population of lower class farm laborers, who struggles for economic survival against the wealthy merchant. Due to monarchial support of the merchant class, rapid inflation of prices and growing European population there became a larger gap between the rich and the poor during the 16th and 17th centuries. As a result of growing economics, competitive nationalism remained a characteristic carried throughout the 16th and 17th centuries.
From Queen Elizabeth I’s rule remained the constant rivalry with Spain. When Elizabeth stopped a Catholic rebellion from continuing, which Spain supported, she was asserting her power over the English nation. This caused problems because while Spain and England are rivals, they also have different national religions. Thus, English sailors challenged Spain for the control of trade in the New World and Atlantic Ocean. By using the “protestant wind” as a form of power and unity of the English citizens, England was able to win. When the English defeated the Spanish Armada, this increased England’s power and nationalism. This was a gradual change because competitive nationalism between Spain and England gradually increased as more people took part in trade and began to settle in the New World. Two other nations that are examples of competitive nationalism are Spain and Portugal. Beginning with Portugal’s control over the Mediterranean trade routes, Spain took the initiative to start claiming land in the New World. By doing so, the Spanish sent aggressive conquistadors that claimed as much land that was available. Thus, Portugal sent explorers over to claim land. With the complications of the relationship between the two nations, the Treaty of Tordesillas was established. This was a rapid change because Spain and Portugal were aggressively trying to
increase their own nation’s economics and proving nationalism to their own country. The Columbian Exchange was the export of goods between the Portuguese, Spanish, French, and English colonies and their mother country. As a result of the Columbian Exchange, nationalism increased throughout the countries by helping their mother country. This was a rapid change because once settlements were established, the colonies began sending trading goods found in the New World to their mother country. Due to competitive nationalism, all countries continue to fight and provide for their country, which is prevalent in World War II. In the 16th and 17th centuries, Europe went through many changes in their economics such as the Transatlantic slave trade and an extensive gap between the middle class and poor, but the continuity of pride for one’s country remained. With the Transatlantic slave trade, this started slavery, which still continues in third world countries. The extensive gap between the middle class and poor began with the reign of absolute monarchs who taxed the poor and gave benefits for those of a higher social status. The one characteristic that has carried on throughout a country is the people’s nationalism. Nationalism is now shown by fighting for one’s country, similarly to how the conquistadors explored South America and conquered land for Spain.