History of Western Colonization and Society

Social

• The West imposed slavery and had a hierarchical society, with lords and commoners.
• Some Western societies had female rulers.
• Latin America faced a decline in population due to disease after colonization.
• Latin America developed a "casta" system which classified people by racial categories.
• African slaves were forced to work in Latin America.

Political

• Western Europe transitioned from feudalism to absolute monarchies.
• The Glorious Revolution led to a constitutional monarchy in England.
• The Thirty Years' War was a major religious conflict in Europe.
• Latin American societies had a system of viceroys appointed by the Spanish or Portuguese crowns.
• Brazil was a Portuguese colony.
• The Bourbon Reforms introduced changes to the administration of Spanish colonies.

Interactions

• Magellan's circumnavigation was significant in the Western age of exploration.
• The Columbian exchange resulted in the exchange of plants, animals, and diseases between Europe and the Americas.
• Latin America was involved in the triangular trade, exchanging goods with Africa and Europe.
• Silver from Latin America was transported to Asia.
• England and France challenged Spanish and Portuguese dominance in Latin America.

Cultural

• The Renaissance, Reformation, and Scientific Revolution were pivotal periods in Western culture.
• Latin America was heavily influenced by Catholicism.
• Syncretism, the blending of indigenous and European beliefs, developed in Latin America.
• Early universities were established in Latin America.
• Mercury was used for extracting silver from mines.

Economic

• The Commercial Revolution saw major changes in trade and finance in Europe.
• The shift from feudalism to capitalism was marked by changes in the social, political, and economic structures.
• Mercantilism, an economic policy, focused on accumulating wealth through trade and colonies.
• Haciendas were large landholdings controlled by elites in Latin America.
• The mita was a mandatory labor system imposed on indigenous populations in mines.
• The Quinto, a tax collected on silver production, was a major source of revenue for the Spanish crown.