Theme Basic feature at Key continuities Key changes Basic features end Reasons for

beginning of the of the period change

period
Global trade Localized regional trading, Japan, Russia and China Global trading Mercantilistic Improvements in
e.g Hanseatic league. remain isolated Atlantic, Indian ocean Systems. technology (Ship
Colonial powers building and
competing. navigation)

Human Increased urbanization Farming systems Migration of crops and Enclosure of land in Increase in
effects on animals (Columbian the UK and better population.
exchange) farming techniques Innovation from the
environment
lead to greater output beginning of
and larger farms. industrialization.

Labor Feudal (English and Majority still peasants Development of Atlantic Slavery. Death of natives due
systems Spanish) Forced labor of conquered slave trade to disease.
peoples
Russia stays the same.
Japan stays the same.

Demography No major population Mixed marriages Colonists interacting

explosion with Natives