The Early Modern Period began in the late 15th century through the 18th century. The early modern period follows the late Middle Ages of the post-classic era. The period witnessed the exploration and colonization of the Americas. It also experienced the rise of sustained contacts between previously isolated parts of the globe. The global economic system included trade routes, exports and imports, and industrial enterprises. Trade routes were one of the most important characteristics of the global economic system. During this period, there were several trade routes that resulted in the discovery of new lands. In document 1, it shows Europeans exploring along the coasts of Africa, North America, South America, and Asia. This happened during 1420through 1542. They used trade routes around the Cape Verde Is., the Cape Horn, and across the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, and the Indian Ocean. In document 3, it shows the African slave trade from 1500 through 1800. From Africa, they traded slaves to the West Indies, Jamaica, Haiti, Cartagena, Ecuador, Brazil, North America, and along the coast of Europe. Along the trade routes discussed before, they had …show more content…
In document 6, it shows a silver refinery at Potosi in 1700. The silver refineries of Spanish America were among the largest and most heavily capitalized industrial enterprises in the Western Hemisphere during the colonial period. Aqueducts carried water from large reservoirs on nearby mountainsides to the refineries. Amerindian laborers then sorted, dried, and mixed the crushed ore with mercury and other catalysts to extract the silver. Miners then separated the amalgam using a combination of washing and heating. The resultant is a nearly pure ingot of silver. Silver refineries carried a high environmental cost because of deforestation, overgrazing and erosion from the tens of thousands of animals, and poisoning of the