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Changes in the 17th century - Coggle Diagram
Changes in the 17th century
Population
A rising death rate in Europe put a stop to the population growth of the 15th and 16th centuries
In some areas, the number of inhabitants actually decreased
There were four main reasons for the high death rate in Europe in the 17th century
Poor harvests
In societies whose main economic activity was agriculture, a series of poor harvests resulted in famines
These famines affected the most disadvantaged social groups
Wars
Successive wars broke out, affecting almost the whole continent
There were large conflicts
The Thirty Years’ War (1618–1648)
The English Civil War (1642–1651)
Epidemics
Malnutrition caused by failed harvests and the effects of successive wars helped the plague to spread
Affecting the weakest sectors of society
Poor hygiene
Poor hygienic conditions and ineffective medical care
Contributed to the spread of the plague
Some hygienic measures, such as the use of quarantines and masks, became more widespread
European population from 1600 to 1700
Society
During the 17th century, there were
Major international wars
Severe economic problems
In the farming sector (in which the vast majority of people worked)
In textile industries
These factors, as well as political conflicts that often led to civil wars, resulted in social unrest and a series of popular revolts
Many revolts protested military conscription and the fiscal policy of the monarchies
Increased taxes to finance their armies and win wars
Conscription and taxes affected the non-privileged classes the most
These groups revolted against the privileged classes, and sometimes even against the king himself
Tax revolts
Coincided with food riots caused by
The lack of food in cities during periods of poor harvests
The speculation on cereal prices
Merchants stored grain without selling it, waiting for the price to increase as much as possible when cereal was scarce
The high price of bread led to urban revolts
In rural areas
Fiscal policy and oppression caused by
Noblemen in feudal estates
Members of the middle class
Accumulated property by confiscating those of impoverished, indebted peasants
This led to large peasant revolts
Economy
Agriculture: Crisis and changes
During the 15th and 16th centuries, agriculture fed the growing population
Because, in most of Europe, new areas of land were being ploughed to sow crops
However, much of that land was of poor quality, and, after a few years of good harvests, yields decreased
This reduced the agricultural sector’s capacity to supply enough food
Only became more productive in areas such as the Netherlands, the Duchy of Milan and England
Here
New techniques, such as crop rotation, were introduced
Irrigation became more widespread
The situation in the rest of Europe gradually improved with the introduction of these techniques
Crops brought back from America, such as maize and potatoes, also helped to improve the situation
They were not use everywhere
Global trade routes and chartered companies
Trade with America and Asia intensified
Global trade routes were established
Using the trade model developed between the Hispanic Monarchy and its American viceroyalties in the 16th century
Kingdoms such as Portugal, England, France and the Dutch Republic
Traded with their colonies
Engaged in smuggling with the Hispanic viceroyalties to avoid the royal monopoly
Chartered companies were created in England, France, the Dutch Republic and Denmark
In the 17th century
To control trans-oceanic trade
Only these companies were able to trade in the areas designated to them
Sometimes they were used to conquer and colonise other countries in these areas
Mercantilism
A school of economic thought that emerged in France
Formulated by Jean-Baptiste Colbert serverof a minister of finance under Louis XIV
Colbert’s central principle was that the wealth and the economy of France should serve the state
He believed that
The more precious metals a kingdom owned, the more powerful it would be
A monarchy’s economic policy should focus on that aim
The way to achieve
Promote craftwork and export products abroad
Imports had to be limited, so import tariffs were increased
This protectionism made it possible to accumulate money, in the form of gold and silver, by preventing it from leaving the country
Atlantic triangular trade
This trading system operated from the late 16th to early 19th centuries
Chartered companies worked in and around the West Indies and the East Indies
There they exchanged silver for spices
As a result, a triangular flow of trade was established in the Atlantic
