In the early fifteenth century the way of transportation was via ship. This transatlantic world called for other means of survival than just food alone. Therefore, people needed more to stay alive and pleased. Ships helped out with many tasks including getting from one part of the world to the other, discovery of new territories, cultures, foods, and goods, but most importantly, it helped out with trade. Through the help of the ship, brave sailors, and newly discovered merchandise, trade helped Europe dominate and expand over the world.
             It is difficult to comprehend how Europe became so powerful when the view of the globe was so narrow. They did this through purchasing goods, moving them to another territory where they were not known and selling them for a profit. This was known as mercantilism and the Europeans did it with much eagerness. By the sixteen hundreds, the Europeans covered most of the shores of America and came into contact with Africa. Africa was a home to wealthy kingdoms, primarily in West Africa, based on a trade of gold for salt. West Africa needed salt and North Africa wanted gold. Europe came to be involved with Africa in what started out as wanting a part of the gold, but ended up overpowering the cities in Africa. They took the feeble citizens as slaves to sell for trade, and they succeeded in doing so. Some citizens volunteered as indentured servants thinking that they were going to be paid, but it ended up as a rude awakening for them. Slaves, sadly, provided cheap and reliable labor to provide commodities for the west European markets. About ten million slaves from Africa ended up in the New World plantations, while many more were captured and died on the way over. If there was a profit to be made, the people were interested.
             The Europeans' economy changed from a large negotiating financial system to a moneymaking system. Merchandise from all over circulated through Europe and they...