A lot of us could use a brush up on our history — or just a crash course for the first time — and this video is a fascinating reminder of how European conquest spread throughout the Americas. From looking at the limited geographical knowledge Europeans had before the mid-15th century to how trade led to exploration of the Atlantic to American countries demanding their right to govern themselves, this video packs a lot of crucial history in — all in less than 10 minutes. Whether you’re looking for a refresher or keen to learn for the first time, it’s important viewing.
With nationalism on the rise and international aggression rising faster, it’s vital that we don’t forget the brutal way in which countries treated each other in the past — and the way singularism and a sense of dominance can lead to bloodshed. If you want to see how international politics in the West played out over the last five centuries, you can see the whole video here:
It’s a lot of information to take in, but it’s important to keep in mind. Trade led to exploration and discovery, but it also led to the spread of disease, violence, and even the extinction of indigenous groups — and the consequences still very much shape inequalities found in the Americas today.
