UNIT 2 (Rise and Fall of Nations) Prompts

Unit 2: Rise and Fall of Nations
Section 11: The Opening of the Atlantic
Section 12: The Commercial Revolution
Section 13: Changing Social Structures
Section 14: The Crusades of Catholic Spain
Section 15: The Disintegration and Reconstruction of France
Section 16: The Thirty Years’ War and the Disintegration of Germany

This Unit covers most of the major political and economic developments of the 16th and the first half of the 17th centuries. Here is a list of prompts for you to choose from:

1. Gold, God or Glory: What was the most important or the most consequential European motivation in the New World? I think responses might vary depending on the time frame you have in mind so try to be clear on whether you are thinking about the initial motivation or the longer run motivation.

2. Adam Smith's writings are very critical of 18th century mercantilism. How does the system measure up in its early days? This prompt requires you to evaluate government involvement in the economy in the 16th century.

3. What would it have taken for Spain to hold on to its military and economic power? Was there any chance Spain could have pulled it off?
This is a less boring version of the standard question: “How do you account for the decline and collapse of the Spanish economy while the Dutch and English economies prospered?”

4. Why was France able to recover from the religious wars in contrast to Germany which was not?

5. Are there recurring patterns in the rise and decline in world powers?