In this groundbreaking study, Hugh Black explores the cultural, social, and political forces that shaped the emergence of the modern world. From the rise of new technologies to the influence of international trade, this book provides a comprehensive overview of the major forces that transformed the world in the centuries following the age of exploration. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.