Historical Drivers of Discovery and Societal Structures

Causes of Discoveries

• New maps will be developed.
• Widespread use of navigation instruments.
• Appearance of new types of ships.

The Authoritarian Monarchies

Established a series of effective mechanisms for decision-making:

• Created bureaucracies.
• Strengthened the military.
• Increased taxation.
• Created a strengthened diplomatic network for Hispanica.

The Monarchy of Philip II

The empire was the most powerful of his era. In 1580, upon the death of the Portuguese king (who was the son of a Portuguese infanta), Philip claimed his rights over the crown.

Where We Live (Settlement Factors)

People tend to settle in areas characterized by:

• Abundant water supply.
• Temperate zones.
• Valleys and plains.
• Areas with natural resources.

Areas with High Densities of Population

• The Northern Hemisphere temperate zone.
• Asia and South-East Asia (China and India).
• Urban areas.

Demographic Indicators

Fertility

Indicates the number of children that women have in a location.

Birth Rate

Registers the number of births in a place for a specified number of time.

Mortality

The number of deaths in a population.

Infant Mortality

The number of deaths under one year of age in a population.

Population Policies

In developed countries, the numbers of elderly are increasing, leading to higher spending on health. In underdeveloped countries, population growth often outpaces the economy. Therefore, some governments implement policies that favor pronatalism (encouraging births) and others implement anti-birth policies to reduce the number of births.

Societies According to Their Structure

Rural Society

Livestock farming and the exploitation of energetic mineral resources are the base of the economy. Industry is not very important, and the modern service sector may occupy much of the population. Rural society remains more important in less developed countries.

Industrial Societies

One-third of the population works in industry. Agriculture and livestock farming have little presence, but the service sector is strong. The majority of the population lives in the city.

The Post-Industrial Society

Services occupy 60% of employment. Industry employs less than 30% of the population, and livestock farming always involves less than 10%. These are urban societies where the process of emigration of rural workers to the cities has been completed.

Social Conflict

This is a problematic situation in which two or more groups perceive their interests differently and face each other to defend their values.