Prepare: Read
Benjamin, Thomas. The Atlantic World: Europeans, Africans, Indians and Their Shared History, 1400-1900. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 2009.
Fassnacht, Max, Stephanie Fink, Robert Jackson, and Michelle Warn. “The Anatomy of a Discussion Board (Links to an external site.).” Accessed February 15, 2016. https://sites.google.com/site/anatomyofadiscussionboard/home.
Fassnacht, Max, Stephanie Fink, Robert Jackson, and Michelle Warn. “Critical Thinking: A Guide to Skillful Reasoning (Links to an external site.).” Accessed August 15, 2016. http://www.criticalthinkingandreasoning.org/evaluating-critical-thinking.
Reflect: The introduction to Part Two of the text suggests the importance of thinking about relationships between Europe, Africa, and the Americas in terms of webs of interconnectivity. While these connections involved power dynamics that frequently were unequal, recognizing the significance of different individuals, cultural groups, and societies that came into contact whether by accident, force, or choice is key to understanding the complexities of the Atlantic World. This world became increasingly complicated by the sustained involvement of the French, English, and Dutch over the course of the seventeenth century. Consult “Critical Thinking: A Guide to Skillful Reasoning (Links to an external site.)” as you formulate your response.
Write: In an initial post of at least 250-300 words, explain how the Iberian Atlantic World was transformed by the entrance of the French, English, or Dutch, explaining how African or indigenous American interests and actions affected the changes you identify over the course of the seventeenth century. Cite specific examples from the required and recommended readings and consider the following points as you compose your response:
