Explain what we mean when we say that the world 'shrank' in the 1500s.
When we say the world 'shrank' in the 1500s, we mean that the world became more interconnected and accessible than before. This happened after European sailors found a sea route to Asia and successfully crossed the western ocean to reach America.
Before its 'discovery', America had been cut off from regular contact with the rest of the world for millions of years. However, from the sixteenth century onwards, its vast lands, abundant crops, and minerals began to transform trade and lives everywhere.
The Indian Ocean had already known bustling trade for centuries, with goods, people, knowledge, and customs criss-crossing its waters. The entry of Europeans helped expand and redirect some of these flows towards Europe, increasing global connections.
Explanation
This answer explains the metaphorical meaning of the world 'shrinking' - it refers to increased connectivity through new sea routes discovered by Europeans in the 1500s. The key points covered are: (1) European sailors finding sea routes to Asia and America, (2) America's integration into world trade after being isolated, and (3) the expansion of existing Indian Ocean trade networks towards Europe. The answer draws directly from Section 1.3 'Conquest, Disease and Trade' in the textbook.