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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
There were four main reasons for the high death rate:
Wars
Successive wars broke out, affecting almost the whole continent. There were large conflicts, as well as civil wars.
Epidemics
Malnutrition caused by failed harvests and the effects of successive wars helped the plague to spread, affecting the weakest sectors of society.
Poor Harvests
In societies whose main economic activity was agriculture, a series of poor harvests resulted in famines.
Poor Hygiene
Poor hygienic conditions and ineffective medical care also contributed to the spread of the plague.
However, some hygienic measures, such as the use of quarantines and masks, became more widespread.
SOCIETY
During the 17th century, there were major international wars and severe economic problems, especially in the farming sector (in which the vast majority of people worked) and 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, which increased taxes to finance their armies and win wars. Conscription and taxes affected the non-privileged classes the most.
Tax revolts often coincided with food riots, caused by the lack of food in cities during periods of poor harvests, and because of speculation on cereal prices. Merchants stored grain without selling it, waiting for the price to increase as much as possible when cereal was scarce
In rural areas, fiscal policy and oppression was caused by noblemen in feudal estates or by members of the middle class, who accumulated property by confiscating those of impoverished, indebted peasants (Peasants revolts).
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, where they exchanged silver for spices
As a result, a triangular flow of trade was established in the Atlantic.
Ships left European ports with all kinds of products and headed to the west coast of Africa.
In Africa, they exchanged the least valuable goods for slaves, and then left for America.
In America, the slaves and most valuable products were sold.