Early Modern Era
The world in 1492 AD
7 powers on the map
European sails cross the oceans. The first capitalist world-system is born: Silver from Potosí, spices from the Moluccas, African slaves on American plantations. Demographic devastation of indigenous American populations (90% drop in a century). Protestant Reformation, Scientific Revolution, Enlightenment.
What happened
Empires and states
Active trade routes
- Trans-Saharan Gold Route — Malian gold, salt and slaves toward the Maghreb
- Hanseatic League — Northern European merchant network
- Indian Ocean Spice Route — Pepper, cloves and nutmeg westbound