During the period from 1700-1763, Europe experienced an expansion in global trade. Routes between the continents were discovered in previous centuries, but they were put to greater use in the 1700s. In this time period, "triangle trade" between Europe, Africa, and Asia was the norm. This global trade improved living conditions in Europe, but created diplomatic problems as countries battled to have the upper hand in trade.
For Europeans, the social consequences of global trade were generally positive. Widespread trade created many new jobs in shipping and trading companies. New companies, like the East India Trading Co., grew and flourished. These companies and jobs showed trade to be a respectable way of earning a living, and aided the rise of the middle class. Also, global trade introduced many new goods to Europe. Things like sugar, tea, and calico fabrics served as status symbols for the noblility, and the greater variety of food improved the lives of peasants. This trend created population groupe in Europe, which had both positive and negative effects.
Even though global trade had a positive influence on social factors in Europe, it strained the diplomacy between many European countries. England and France tried to gain control of colonies in Africa and North America, while Prussia and Austria fought for the province of Silesia in Europe. These disputes led to The Seven Years' War, which ended rather vaguely on the European side but was a decisive victory for Great Britain. The Treaty of Paris (1763) gave Britain control of many areas in America, which started the British monopoly on trade. France faded into the shadows and started its political decline, while Britain dominated global trade to India and America.
Global trade in the period from 1700-1763 widened the horizons of Europe and had many positive social consequences, yet it created many diplomatic problems and even outright war.
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