In the organizer below find as many points of change and continuity was possible

for the different themes represented in the chart. You will be using the timeframe of
1450-1750 and must be very mindful that the events you choose are within the
period. If they actually occurred before or after the dates specified they cannot
count. You must have a minimum of two points of continuity per region
and three points of change within each thematic chart.

Economics
Continuity Change
Europe 1. Overland trade remained 1. Europeans
viable with Middle East expanded key
2. Silver used as worldwide trade networks
currency (although value to include
fluctuated) Americas/Asia
3. Russia continued system 2. Shift of goods
of serfdom and laid due to
outside worldwide trade Columbian
orbit Exchange
3. Mercantilism
developed as an
ideology
4. Joint-stock
companies
developed
5. Overseas trade
replaced
overland trade
in importance
China 1. Continued to trade luxury 1. China was
goods such as forced to open
silk/porcelain its doors to the
2. Used silver as common Western World
currency 2. Silver from
Europe became
incorporated
into the Chinese
economy in
exchange for
luxury goods
Japan 1. Remained fairly isolated 1. Limited trade
from rest of world with Dutch
2. Mostly small scale
farming in feudal plots
South Asia 1. Mughal empire steadily 1. Mughal empire
brought in silver fall led to power
2. trade in spices/cotton vacuum
3. Textiles remained one of
the most important trade
 items
SW Asia 1. Persian rugs kept a high 1. Trade
demand monopolized by
2. Traditional Silk Route Europeans
important through period through sea
3. Ottomans controlled 2. Portuguese,
route across Arabia to British, Dutch,
Mediterranean ports and and French
route across Anatolia to gained ease of
Istanbul access to
Persian
seaborne trade
3. Dutch
dominated
trade by end of
17th Century in
area of Persian
Gulf
Africa 1. Slave trade started 3. Triangular trade
before period and established:
continued through the slaves exported
Early Modern Era from West
2. Traditional empires Africa
controlled trade across
Sahara desert
Latin America 1. Slavery kept present 1. Development
(from natives to Africans) of large mining
2. Tribute systems industry
continued 2. Triangular trade
established

Political
Continuity Change
Europe 1 .Monarchies 1 Dutch of northern
remained Netherlands
most common established
form of independence from
government Spain (1581)
(absolutism) 2 James I rule united
2 The Church Scotland/England
lost some power 3 Rise of Nation-states
 China 1. Emperors 1. Political powers of
continued to hold Europe forced China to
power open its doors
2. Confucian
bureaucracy
continued to hold
power
Japan 1. Feudal system 1. Contacts with Dutch at
with emperor Nagasaki to maintain
2. Limited influence observation of European
of Europeans developments
2. Tokugawa shogunate
united various daimyo
South Asia 1. Mughal empire 1. Increasing influence
strong in power from political powers of
(Northern India) Portuguese, Dutch,
2. Zamindars French and English
retained power 2. Development of
(landowners) centralized government
ruling over smaller
kingdoms
SW Asia 1. Ottoman Empire 1. Devshirme (converting
and Safavid Christian boys into
Empire Janissary soldiers) drew
(gunpowder to an end in Ottoman
empires) Empire
retained power
mostly
Africa 1. African kingdoms 1. African kingdoms
continued to eventually dominated by
exist with European trade powers
powerful
monarchs
2. Kingdoms were
rich and traded
with gold

Latin America 1. Native 1. Spanish colonies

populations established with
centered around viceroys ruling Natives
tribal unit and 2. Encomienda system set
unique cultural up
identities
2. European powers
dominated rule
(Spain, France,
England)
 Cultural
Continuity Change
Europe 1. Christianity remained important 1. Rise of middle class
2. Church retained some influence (bourgeoisie)
2. Increased desire to
explore because of
booming population
China 1. Ancestor worship, Confucianism, 1. Contact with
Daoism, Buddhism remained European
focus of Chinese spirituality missionaries
2. Chinese culture remained highly (minimal success)
isolated
3. Gender relations remained
consistent
Japan 1. Shintoism remained strong 1. Attempted
2. Buddhism thought prevailed conversions by
3. Feudalistic culture under shoguns Jesuits
4. Landed aristocracy (daimyo) 2. Unification under
controlled power common emperor
South Asia 1. Mughal empire compiled 1. Taj Mahal
interesting architectural styles constructed (point of
from Iranian culture high culture)
2. Janissaries class created
SW Asia 1. Persian culture retained in 1. Mix of ideas from
Safavid empire various religions
2. Shia Islam entrenched into daily affected cultures
activities (Sikhism)
Africa 1. Slave trading remained an 1. Slave trade
important source of trade through expanded into North
entire period America
2. Reliance on core nations + 2. Huge demographic
production of low-cost goods shifts from West
3. Traditional family structures + African populations
social arrangements persisted
Latin America 1. Native culture prevailed 1. Dying native
somewhat, even with addition of populations because
European thought of disease (were
2. Tribal identities strong replaced by African
slaves)
2. Culture classes
developed by race
and parentage:
mestizos, mulattoes,

Intellectual
Continuity
Europe 1. Seafaring skills remained
important
2. Trade influenced intellectual
development
China 1. Mostly isolated from thought of
Europe/the West
2. China developed seafaring
technology.
Japan 1. Isolated from rest of world
2. Zen Buddhist thought
developed and influenced
Japanese worldview
South Asia 1. Safavid empire encouraged
development of Scientific
thought
2. Math and Science remained
important
SW Asia 1. Developed a reliance on
gunpowder to defend borders
2. Knowledge about weapons
expanded
Africa 1. Islam remained influential
through daily life
2. Slavery patterns well known
and developed
creoles,
peninsulares,
zambos
Change
1. Knowledge of agricultural
practices/growing new crops
2. Production of new tools:
astrolabe/new maps
3. Innovations in ship design
4. Improved understanding of
global winds/current patterns
5. Portuguese developed school
of navigation to round tip of
Africa/trade
1. Spread of knowledge of
Compass and gunpowder to
the outside world
3. Knowledge of Firearms
development increased
4. Woodblock prints in Japan
1. Shia Islamic thought took over
most intellectual development;
2.
1. Introduction of gunpowder
created many small states that
developed into major trading
powers
1. Split of Sunni and Shia
traditions of Islam
2. Sufi practices became more
widespread
 Latin 1. Knowledge of crops continued
America to remain important for
survival
2. Domesticated animals, after
introduction, were relied upon
for daily survival
Artistic
Continuity
Europe 1. Art remained influenced
by popular thought of
people
2. Artists remained well
sponsored (in Italy)
3. High point of British
China 1. Confucian thought 1. Art reflected styles of
continued to prevail
through artworks
2. Daoism and power of
nature influenced art
Japan 1. Confucian thought 1. Zen culture reached a
continued to prevail
through artworks
2. Daoism and power of
nature influenced
3. Buddhism especially
influenced Japanese art
(Zen culture)
1. Knowledge of crops such as
potato/tomato spread to
Europe
2. Knowledge of growing cash
crops developed
(sugar/tobacco)
3. Aztec Codices developed
Change
1. Art became more
focused on the
individual compared
to Christian ideology
(Renaissance)
2. Art shifted to
Greek/Roman ideals
literature under
Elizabeth I
(Shakespeare)
outside states in
some areas of China.
high point and
cultivated in
expansive
gardens/landscaping
 South Asia 1. Persian art continued to 1. Persian art mixed with
represent regional Indian art
traditions
2. Bright colors and
patterns used
SW Asia 1. Persian rugs remained in 1. Shiism ideals
high demand influenced
2. Art remained integral to development of
life and expression artistic pieces
3. Rulers used art to
control the people
Africa 1. African culture remained 1. Art was influenced by
strongly ingrained into European traders
art
2. Cultural roots remained
and art reflected
animism
Latin America 1. Native culture 1. Influx of European
influence consistent religious themes (esp.
with art produced Catholicism) into art

Religion
Continuity Change
Europe 1. Catholic Church 1. Deism developed
remained somewhat in (1700s)
power (also Catholic 2. Reformation prompted by
Counter-Reformation) sale of indulgences
(1517)
3. Church of England
formed
4. Spanish Inquisition
pushed out Muslims
 China 1. Buddhism, Daoism, 2. Jesuits attempted to
Confucianism convert; little success
remained mostly the
focus of Chinese
spirituality
Japan 1. Shintoism remained 1. Attempted conversions
strong by Jesuits mostly
2. Buddhism influence unsuccessful

South Asia 1. Religion continued to 1. Influx of new religions

be majority Muslim; such as Sikhism
some Hindu aspects
and Sikh influence
SW Asia 1. Continued to be Shiite 1. Monarchs used religion to
Islamic in Safavid control the people;
Empire

Africa 1. Songhai was kept an 1. Kingdom of Kongo

Islamic state like its
predecessors
2. Timbuktu continued to
be a mix of various
religions
started trading with
Portuguese merchants
(early 1480s)
2. Kings of Kongo
converted to
Christianity (King
Alfonso I successful
for converting people)

Latin America 1. Native religions gained 2. Development of Spanish

an influence through Missions (converted
the entire early Natives)
modern period; they
never fully went away