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The Agricultural Revolution was impactful to Europe in terms of population increase. The Agricultural Revolution brought new methods in agriculture allowing for efficient crop techniques and more food provided to populations. As a result of more food, there was more increase in overall population of Europe and Europe was able to change with a more diverse population.
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The Acts of Union 1707 established The United Kingdom of Great Britain. It combined both England and Scotland into one coherent kingdom which allowed for distribution of wealth and custom to the people and nation itself. In addition, the unification of both kingdoms contributes to the modern UK flag design showing how the unification was critical and shows change within the English region.
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The Age of Enlightenment was an intellectual movement apart of the 18th century. The movement brought up the idea of questioning things in life such as freedom and equality. Famous philosophers from the era include Voltaire and Montesquieu. As a result, Europe began fostering new intellectual ideas which brought about modern intellectual theories such as separation of powers.
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European states began to dramatically increase trade with their owned colonies. As a result, the rise of trade gave wealth to a visible growth in European economy shown in cities and towns. Newfound wealth gave rise to European states in them being able to increase industrial capacity leading to more wealth leading to a change in European economy. In 1715, 19% of trade Britain had was with its American colonies.
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The Bubonic Plague was a disease that terrorized Europe up until the mid 18th century. The disease reduced populations dramatically and made them stay stagnant without much change. In 1720, the last great outbreak of the plague occurred which contributed to more growth aka more wealth and social diversity within Europe in turn for more change.
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Cesare Beccaria was an Italian criminologist who was critical in the idea of justifying the right of eliminating the idea of capital punishment. As a result, people began to question the idea of why capital punishment was more harmful than good to the example of barbarism it set. Beccaria published his book On Crimes and Punishments which details how capital punishment is brutality rather than being only deterrents. Beccaria's idea made society begin to question brutality for instance, etc.
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The Encyclopedia was a major social advancement in Europe because of what it had to offer intellectually created in big contribution by Denis Diderot. The Encyclopedia was created during the Age of Enlightenment and helped to get out philosophical thought to the public and make them rationally think about society. The creation of the Encyclopedia fostered a major intellectually advanced Europe.
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Richard Arkwright was an English inventor who was fundamental to the development of the first spinning machine for cotton. He invented a "water frame" which turned out yarn fast without the use of human labor. His help changed how the spinning machine was used for economic gain as there was not a need for human labor now instead, everything was done by hand.
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Adam Smith was a Scottish philosopher specializing in economics who is quoted as being "The Father of Capitalism". He best used the term laissez-faire which is essentially the government letting the people be freer in their practices such as economics. As a result, Smith founded the theory of economic liberalism which is a market economy with which the government does not interfere. His contributions helped to develop modern capitalistic thought and Europe slowly picked it up.
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Infanticide was a practice that arose primarily much through the 18th century in which families would "accidentally" suffocate their children or abandon them in foundling homes. In 1784 Austria, a law was passed making it illegal for parents to have kids under five in their bed to avoid suffocation. Infanticide shows how with increased population due to more food and resources, there were more unwanted children, and as a result, infanticide occurred in Europe's society.
