Which major development did Era 6 represent in global history?

The correct choice highlights the major shift marked by Era 6, often associated with the Age of Exploration and the subsequent global interactions that resulted from it. This period is characterized by significant advancements in navigation and maritime technology, which enabled European powers to explore and establish trade routes across the oceans, thus creating a new dimension of global interconnectedness.

The term "first global age" aptly describes the onset of a worldwide exchange of goods, ideas, cultures, and populations, facilitated by these explorations. This era saw the establishment of global trade networks, which ultimately led to the sharing of resources between continents, the spread of Christianity, and significant demographic changes due to colonization and migration.

In contrast to the selected answer, the other choices reflect developments that either occurred prior to this era or were more localized. The rise of local civilizations, for instance, refers to earlier historical periods where societies developed independently of one another, while the decline of international trade contradicts the intense increase in global trade activity during Era 6. The establishment of empires, while certainly a feature of this timeframe, is more a characteristic of the specific geopolitical changes rather than a defining global trend like the emergence of the first global age. By emphasizing the interconnectedness of nations and cultures,