The pre-modern world shrank greatly in the sixteenth century. Explain.

It is true that the pre-modern world shrank greatly in the sixteenth century due to the reasons as mentioned below
(i) European sailors found a sea route to Asia. They successfully crossed the western ocean to America. Before that for centuries, the Indian subcontinent was centre of trade with goods, people, knowledge, customs etc. that crossed through its waters. It was a crucial point in the networks of trade and commerce.
(ii) with the discovery of America, its vast lands, abundant crops and minerals transformed trade and lives everywhere in the world.
(iii) Precious metals from mines in Peru and Mexico increased wealth of Europe and financed its trade with Asia.
(iv) The Portuguese and Spanish conquest and colonisation of America took place by the mid-sixteenth century.
(v) In the pre-modern world, India and china were among the world’s richest countries. However, since 15th century, China restricted overseas contact and followed a policy, of isolation. As a result of it, the America’s importance increased. The centre of world trade moved westwards and Europe became the centre of world trade. Thus, the world shrank and became closer in the sixteenth century.