Advanced Placement (AP) European History Practice Exam 2025 - Free AP History Practice Questions and Study Guide

The increase in European consumption of luxury goods in the 1700s can be attributed primarily to the expansion of trade between Europe and other regions of the world. During this period, European nations, particularly those with colonial empires, established and intensified trade networks that facilitated the importation of exotic goods from Asia, Africa, and the Americas. These included silk, spices, tea, sugar, and precious metals, which were highly sought after by the growing affluent classes in Europe.

As trade routes expanded and became more efficient due to advancements in navigation and shipbuilding, the volume and variety of luxury goods available in European markets significantly increased. This development was essential in promoting a culture of consumption, where the rising middle and upper classes sought to display their wealth and status through the acquisition of luxury items. The demand for these goods was further fueled by the emerging consumer culture of the time, driven by the status associated with ownership and the display of such items.

While local manufacturing, agricultural growth, and the emergence of independent merchants all played roles in shaping the economy during this time, it was the global connections and the access to a wider range of luxury products through trade that were most directly linked to the increase in consumption. The synergy of trade and rising consumer habits solid