Spanish Conquest, Atlantic Trade & American Impacts
Atlantic Trade & Spanish Conquest of the Americas
The voyage of Christopher Columbus in 1492 and the subsequent establishment of a Pacific route linking the New World to China (after the Spanish established a colony in the Philippines in 1571) marked the beginning of what some call the ‘first globalization’. Spanish control over much of the New World initially gave them the resources to establish a vast empire encompassing many peoples speaking different languages.
Pre-European Americas &
Read MoreSpain’s Diverse Agricultural Regions and Farming
Northern Atlantic Agricultural Landscape
The population is currently sparse and aged due to forced rural exodus. Settlement is predominantly dispersed. Farms are typically smallholdings (minifundistas). In the past, polyculture was practiced (corn, potatoes, apples, etc.), supplemented by family livestock raising (primarily cattle, followed by sheep and horses). Currently, agriculture tends towards specialization in horticultural crops and forage (mostly pastures). Livestock farming remains significant.
Read MoreMedieval Urban Growth and Romanesque Art Forms
The Growth of Medieval Cities
Major cities were often located on trade routes or ports. From the 11th century onwards, many cities grew, particularly around the Mediterranean.
As construction increased, new neighborhoods, known as burgs, developed outside the existing walls. During the Middle Ages, it was often necessary to build new, larger walls to encompass this growth.
Medieval city streets were typically narrow and irregular. Most houses were built of wood, which facilitated the spread of fires.
Read MoreUnderstanding Geography and Political States
Geography
The science of regional situations, also defined as the science of human organization in geographic space. Learning geography involves understanding different spaces, their essential features, interrelationships, and constant change. It integrates not only economic and financial flows but also environmental, social, and territorial identities. Its purpose is to recognize and explain the different ways humans live on the Earth’s surface. Geography directly benefits human life by analyzing
Read MoreEU Population Dynamics and Urban Landscape
Socio-Demographic Structure of the EU
Population
Europe has historically been a very populous continent due to its mild climate and wide expanse of farmland, which cradled agricultural and industrial revolutions, increasing its wealth. Before the latest enlargement, demographic data indicated a total population close to 380 million inhabitants with an estimated average population density of 117 inhabitants/km². However, significant regional differences exist:
- The Netherlands has an average density
Economic Activities and Systems: A Comprehensive Analysis
1. Economic Activity
Economic activity is the process by which we obtain the products and services that meet our needs. It encompasses three phases: production, distribution, and consumption. Economics is the science that studies the relationship between people’s needs and desires and the means used to meet those needs.
Economic activities are varied but can be grouped into three sectors:
- The Primary Sector includes efforts to obtain food and raw materials from the natural environment (fisheries, agriculture,