Intro to Part 4: The Modern Era

Hello readers of my World History Blog!

In Strayer's introduction to Part 4, reader's are introduced to the Early Modern Era, which is a span of three centuries ranging from about 1450 to 1750. In this era, we are able to discover that some of the early signs of the modern world began to arise.

One of the main phenomenon that began to occur in the Modern Era was globalization. This occurred in many parts of the world, from the journeys of European explorers to America as well as the slave trade which connected Africa to the Western Hemisphere. Europeans were also able to use precious metals to start moving into ancient Asian trade routes.

Population growth also began in China, Japan, India, and Europe because these areas were finally recovering from the Black Death as well as the Mongol Wars. Population growth also occurred because the America's were producing foods that were capable of feeding larger numbers of people. Unfortunately, population growth was limited in Africa due to the slave trade.

This Early Modern Era was not all positive... larger empires began to form across Asia and the Middle East, and in the Americas, which did indeed lead to the intensifying of human pressures on land. Forest's felled, marshes drained, and the list goes on.

Because it is called the Early Modern Era, the name would suggest that the world was more similar to what we now it as today. However this is far from correct. European domination, as well as fully modern societies did not completely exist. It was very unclear whether or not European societies would completely dominate the planet. Many of the aspects modern industrial society did not exist either. There was still no extremely efficient modes of transportation, steam powered factories were not on the rise, and the lower class was still comprised of rural peasants.

Although people were still living in their long established, traditional ways, the Early Modern Era was definitely changing the world. Chapters 13, 14, and 15 will explain the new empires that formed, the emergence of long distance trade, and the new cultural trends.