Rise Of Europe During The 16th Century

The rise of Europe during the 16th century had many contributing factors some of which being economical, social, and political. One economic factor is European exploration and the resources it provided. When Europeans explored they gained access to resources such as spices, cotton, silk, gold/diamonds, coffee, and sugar. These resources translated to wealth and control for European countries. This wealth helped establish a system of capitalism. A wealthy merchant class was created which allowed countries such as England, Spain, France, Dutch, and Portuguese to emerge as powerhouses for global dominance. Finally, slavery cemented itself as the basis for European power. Slavery provided a free source of labor which increased profits allowing