Merchant bourgeoisies, trading and slave trade

• INTRODUCTION: IN WHAT CONTEXT DID EUROPE DEVELOP ITSELF DURING THE XVII AND XVIII centuries?

  After the trips of Big Discoveries during the XV and XVI centuries, Europe multiplied trades with the 'New World' and exported its culture there. Little to little, it tries to dominate those territories.
• Europe traded with its American and African colonies and with its Asian counters.
• Marchandises were travelling on the ocean transported by commercial companies' ships like the ones from 'Indes Orientales', founded in 1664 by Louis XIV.
• Thanks to its trade, Europe dominated the world in the XVIII century.
• Cities like Bordeaux, Nantes and London had traders who gained a lot of money by being close to the Atlantic Ocean.
• With the fortunes they had, they built private hotels with maids and helped finance some neighbourhoods.
• The countryside was also developing during that time.