Module 2: Foundations of the Atlantic World
Section outline
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The sixteenth century was a time of momentous change in Europe. Europe experience the tumult of the Protestant Reformation and subsequent wars of religion. The Age of Exploration began in the late 1400s with forays into the Atlantic by two European nations—Portugal and Spain. This module examines these early forays to the "New World," as well as the ventures of other European players including England, France, the Netherlands, and Denmark. This module also details the exploding web of connections in the Atlantic World—the Columbian Exchange, the colonization of the Americas, and the development of the Atlantic slave trade—and how these systems forever changed people’s understanding of what the world was like and the face and direction of history.
(Credit: "On Board A Slave Ship," John Swain, Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain)
Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:- Discuss the spread of Protestantism in Europe and the wars of religion
- Explain the motives for Spanish and Portuguese exploration in the Americas and how technological innovations in the fifteenth century made transatlantic journeys possible
- Describe the physical and cultural ramifications of the Columbian Exchange
- Describe the theory of mercantilism and the workings of the triangular trade
- Discuss the way market forces influenced the development of labor-intensive agriculture in the Americas
To achieve these objectives:
- Read the Module Introduction.
- Read Chapter 2 in Western Civilization II.
- Complete the assessments and discussion questions.
Module Pressbooks Resources and Activities
You will find the following resources and activities in this module at the Pressbooks website. Click on the links below to access or complete each item.
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