Question

price revolution
figure 1. consumer prices in european cities in grams of silver, 1300–1600
all the following are causes of the trend on the chart except:
a) rising populations of europe led to an increased demand for goods
b) an influx of precious metals from the new world led to inflation
c) there was a shortage of goods available in proportion to the population
d) mercantilist policies promoted free trade

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option in the context of the Price Revolution (rising prices in Europe 1300 - 1600):

• Option A: Rising population increases demand, pushing prices up. This is a cause.
• Option B: Influx of precious metals (from Americas) increased money supply, causing inflation (price rise). This is a cause.
• Option C: Shortage of goods relative to population (demand > supply) raises prices. This is a cause.
• Option D: Mercantilist policies focused on accumulating wealth (e.g., tariffs, trade restrictions), not free trade. Free trade was not a mercantilist goal, so this is not a cause of the price trend.

Answer:

D. Mercantilist policies promoted free trade