black death & emergence of modern trade

• • black death wiped out 2/3 of europe bc diseases were spread throughout the trading routes (mainly silk)
  • reached throughout eurasia but MAINLY affected europe 
• • Portugal and Spain sought new trade opportunities after the Muslim blockade
  • led Spain to discover the Western Hemisphere
  • led Portugal to find a sea route to India around Africa
• • Their control over global maritime routes filled the void left by China's isolation and rebuilt the trading system that was disrupted by the Black Death
• • This gave rise to the modern global trade system dominated by Europe, with the West growing wealthier while other regions became vulnerable to European trade dominance
• • The outcome was not entirely predictable and owed as much to European innovation and boldness as to contributions from other societies along the trade routes