Medieval Europe: Trade, Society, and Politics
Definitions
Hansa
The Hansa was a commercial and defensive confederation of merchant guilds and market towns in Northwestern and Central Europe. Growing from a few North German towns in the late 12th century, the league came to dominate Baltic maritime trade for three centuries along the coasts of Northern Europe. Hansa territories stretched from the Baltic to the North Sea and inland during the Late Middle Ages and diminished slowly after 1450. Key cities included Lübeck and Hamburg.
Bills of Exchange
Bills
Read MoreSpain’s Economic Transformation & Social Shifts 1959-1975
Spain’s Economic Transformation and Social Shifts (1959-1975)
Developmentalism: Spain’s Economic Miracle
Spain went from a struggling nation to the tenth-largest industrial power after a decade of 7% annual growth. This period is often referred to as the “Spanish Miracle.”
Stabilization Plan and Economic Growth Factors
Change in Economic Policy: Stabilization Plan (1959)
- Devaluation of the peseta (lost half its value against the U.S. dollar)
- Public spending cuts
- Liberalization of markets: abolition of
Demographics and Resources of Europe
Birth Rate in Europe: Europe has the lowest birth rate among all continents, at only 14%. This means 14 children are born per year for every 1000 inhabitants.
Causes: Use of contraceptive methods, integration of women in the workforce, and materialistic views.
Mortality in Europe: The mortality rate in Europe is 10%, meaning 10 people die per year per 1000 inhabitants.
Causes: Degenerative diseases (cancer), chronic diseases (diabetes), cardiac issues, and accidents.
Vegetative Growth in Europe: Europe’
Read MoreUnderstanding the Primary Sector: Agriculture to Fishing
Primary Sector Activities
The primary sector encompasses activities that involve the extraction and utilization of natural resources. These include agriculture, livestock farming, forestry, fishing, and mining.
Agricultural Space
Agricultural space emerges when humans modify the natural environment to cultivate crops and raise livestock. Several factors influence this space:
Physical Factors
- Climate: Temperature, precipitation, and adverse atmospheric agents play a crucial role.
- Relief: Sunny and shaded
Urban Plan Commentary: A City’s Spatial Evolution
Urban Plan Commentary
1. City Location
a) Environmental Context: Describe the city’s surroundings (e.g., river junctions, geographical features).
b) Specific Location: Precise location (e.g., hilltop, bay, plain). Explain the location’s significance (e.g., defense, commerce).
Example:
Location: Southern sub-plateau, along the Tagus River (water supply).
Location: Hilltop at a Tagus River bend (defensive).
2. Urban Morphology
2.1. Flatland Types
- Irregular (e.g., Toledo)
- Radiocentric (e.g., Vitoria)
- Orthogonal/
British Industrial Revolution: Causes, Demographic & Agricultural Shifts
Causes of the Revolution
Pre-industrial societies of the former regime or subsistence farming predominated, with a cottage industry facing serious technological barriers. The majority of the population had little purchasing power. Transportation was slow, and commerce was hampered by customs within each country.
Since the mid-eighteenth century, British regions like Lancashire, in England, experienced industrial concentration with the creation of numerous factories.
The development of textile and steel
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