How Did The Europe Change In The Atlantic World

During the early modern era (1492-1750), Africa and the Atlantic World were affected by Western Europe both socially and economically because of the exploration by the Europeans during the Age of Exploration, leading to a shift in their government to autonomous states and a desire to create trade growth. While Christianity and patriarchal views spread through the Columbian Exchange, slavery within triangular trade created a change in demographics in both Africa and the Atlantic World because of the movement of natives to European plantations.

Western Europe gradually changed the social standings in both Africa and AW. With the establishments of trade routes from Western Europe to the Atlantic World, the influence of the Europeans changed
Because of the European influence, which was more hierarchal than the Natives, this led to social stratification. Peninsuarles, or those of pure Spanish decent, were at the top of the social hierarchy, while those furthest away from being Spanish were at the bottom. Also, with the increase in trade, the European’s influence changed social and political standings in Africa from kingdoms, like Mali in the 13th century, to more centralized autonomous states, like the Songhay Empire in the 15th century. This change occurred because with the trade networks formed with Europe, states formed for commercial benefit. For example, the Songhay Empire had governors over provinces and a hierarchal military, similar to that of the Western European states, which allowed them to increase trade and expand. Another social effect that the Europeans had was the change in demographics in both Africa and the Atlantic World. With the establishment of Triangular Trade, slave trade became one of the prosperous markets in the early mod ere, especially in Africa because of its
Mercantilism, or the theory that power is based on wealth and a greater amount exports than imports, increased WE desire to trade and gain resources. This led to the exploration of NW and motivation to establish trade routes with AF and AW. This was evident especially in Spain because when they conquered the Tainos in the Caribbean, and the islands became populated with a few viceroys and hundreds of slaves on the plantations. This shows that the Spanish were not there to colonize but just to benefit from the production of sugar.Another affect of the Europeans on Atlantic World econ, was the Spanish enconmienda system. This system gave Spaniards land and native laborers in return for promising to convert them to Christianity and to protect them. This connected the economy of the conquered lands to the economy of Spain, so that when the value of silver plummeted, silver producing lands suffered along with Spain. Potosi shows the economic connection to Spain because it became a ghost town after the crash of the silver industry in Spain. Triangular Trade created interdependence between Europe,AW and AF. The trade of slaves, sugar, and spirits were connected because in order to grow and refine sugar cane, slaves were needed, while spirits were made of molasses (sugar byproduct) and incented the slaves to produce the sugar. This created a