Industry and trade

Due to the population growth in the 18th century demand for goods grew too

The domestic system increased its importance in rural areas, mostly with the textile industry.
Craftsmen could not increase their production due to the restrictions that were still imposed by the guilds.

Some monarchs promoted industry by opening Royal Manufactories as Louis XIV of France had done in the 17th century.

• They mostly produced luxury goods such as crystal lamps, cloth, tapestries, silk, china, or clocks.
• Their products mostly adorned the European royal palaces and were bought by some bourgeois and noble people too.

Concerning internal trade there was a huge development due to the bigger agricultural and artisan production. New roads and canals were built to enhance internal trade.

External trade increased since there were more discovered areas and in the Atlantic Ocean the triangular trade prevailed:

• Colonies provided raw materials, precious metals, and plantation products; whilst they bought manufactured products from their metropolises and slaves from Africa.
• European metropolises exported manufactured goods both to their colonies and to Africa, whilst they imported raw materials and slaves from the colonies and Africa.
• Africa imported manufactured goods from Europe and exported slaves to Europe and their colonies.