Mercantile Empires of the 18 th Century

1. Mercantile Empires of the 18th Century

2. After a period of relative peace and prosperity, the second half of the 18th century witnessed renewed warfare. • Two separate but related conflicts: • Britain v. France (and, to a certain degree, Spain) dueled for supremacy in commerce and colonial empire. • Prussia v. Austria: dominance in central Europe. The wars proved costly, forcing the Euro governments to reorganize their financial and taxation systems

3. I. Mercantile Empires • The Four periods of European Overseas Empire • European… a) b) c) d) • Colonial trade rivalry among Gr. Brit, Fr. & Sp a) b) c)

4. Imperialism a) b) c) • Decolonization When?

5. II. Mercantilism 1) 2) 3) 4) 5)

6. Britain and France differed in their take on mercantilism a) France & private interests? b) Britain & private interests? c) British Navigation Acts?

7. Treaty of Utrecht 1713 = “who” got “what” a) Spain b) Gr. Britain c) France d) Dutch

8. III. Fr/Brit mercantile rivalry occurred in the New World and in India • Native American Indians • West Indies (heart of rival b/t Fr and GrBrit) a) at stake? b) Sugar? c) Labor?

9. Spanish Colonial System a) Council of Indies & viceroys b) Trade & Cadiz c) Colonial Reform under Spanish Bourbon Monarchs * peninsulares * creoles

10. IV. North Atlantic Economy, Plantation Economy & Slavery • Why was there an increase in demand for African slaves by the 1700s? • The Plantation System • Atlantic Economy (Triangular Trade) Scene from “Roots”