Empires and Encounters 1450-1750

Across the Western Hemisphere are the most significant colonies, the European colonies.  This includes the Spanish, Portuguese, British, French and Dutch.  Russia was an Asian and European territory that participated in the imperial stage of the modern era.  Early Modern Era was the stage of an Empire.  Western Europe was different because they were started by maritime expansion and because they took over countries that resided across the ocean from the main land instead of right next to it.  Europe expanded their territory to cover most of the Americas.  The countries that were on the border was was helped Europe succeed.  They transported goods to and from the Atlantic Ocean.  Along with that, came diseases and people.  This lead to a shortage in labor.  They then brought over their plants and animals, along with new foods too.  These foods were inexpensive and fairly nutritious.  This is also when the slave trade occurred.  There was an economic theory known as mercantilism.  In the location of the Aztecs and Incas is where quite a few cities were started.  These cities had universities, churches, an administrative bureaucracy, and international trade systems.  The society was made up of Spanish and Indian people.  Mediterranean was introduced to sugar by the Arabs.  Sugar transformed a few countries.  the chart on page 14 is what I found very interesting.  Highland Spanish America was made up of 41.7% Native Americans, 11.9% Africans, 28.3% Mixed race, and 18.2% Europeans.  Portuguese America, also known as Brazil, was made up of 9.1% Native Americans, 49.8% Africans, 17.8% mixed race, and 23.4% Europeans.  Britain was the last of the Europeans to settle in the Americas