AP World History Exam Study Session #6 The West and the World’s Economy

The West and the Changing Balance of Power DECLINE OF THE OLD ORDER Byzantine Empire and Islamic Caliphate dominated the Middle East until the 13 th century By mid-15 th century—Ottoman Turks took Constantinople Cultural change accompanied political change in the Middle East

Popularity of the Sufi accompanied a shift toward mysticism and away from science Agricultural struggles meant that many peasants became serfs Fragmentation of the Islamic world continued under the Ottoman Empire –Mongols took advantage of the fragmentation

1368—New Ming Dynasty emerged –Pushed out the Mongols, which created a power vacuum –1405—Ming emperors began series of trading voyages to India under Zheng He 1433—Voyages stopped and China became isolated –Chinese emperors focused on strengthening their power within China

THE RISE OF THE WEST 15 th century—Time of profound change in the West –Aristocracy lost its place as defenders and leaders Turned to jousting and court ritual –Famine and Black Death changed European culture and society 1/3 of the population died in thirty years

Medieval monarchies retained their vigor European economy revived after a period of decline Urbanization increased Expansion of the Mongol Empire brought the west into contact with the east –New innovations arrived in Europe, including: Compass Paper Gunpowder

Great demand for eastern luxury goods led to a gold drain –This, combined with the threat of the Ottoman Empire, drove Europeans to seek new routes to the east 14 th century—Italian Renaissance began to take shape –Cultural and political movement that looked to the past –Individual was central

–Florence was the preeminent city in the Renaissance Painting became more realistic –Italian trade flourished, which helped fund the Renaissance 15 th century—The Reconquista of the Iberian Peninsula was completed under the Christian monarchs Castile and Aragon

WESTERN EXPANSION: THE EXPERIMENTAL PHASE Vivaldi brothers undertook one of the earliest Atlantic voyages –They never returned Subsequent voyages took Europeans to the Canary Islands, the Madeiras, the Azores, and down the western cost of Africa

Astrolabe and compass made exploration possible Prince Henry the Navigator (Portugal) was especially important in supporting the technology behind trans-Atlantic voyages –He also began colonization in the Azores –Pattern was established for colonies: Cash crops were grown on large estates Slave labor was crucial on the plantations

OUTSIDE THE WORLD NETWORK Americas and Polynesia developed in relative isolation –Changes here made some societies vulnerable to attack Aztec and Inca empires fragmented –Central governments had difficulty controlling their vast empires

—Polynesia saw expansion and migration of the Society Islands –Hawaii was part of the greater Polynesian world Cut off from about 1400 Divided into small kingdoms and organized hierarchically 8 th century—Polynesians began to settle New Zealand –Maori became isolated after 1400 Were particularly vulnerable to western colonizers

Technology provided a hard link between regions –Other developments were indigenous Ties between regions were important, but native traditions survived

The World Economy THE WEST’S FIRST OUTREACH: MARITIME POWER 1500—Europeans had become more aware of the world –Ignorance hampered explorations –Early voyages on small ships brought small returns

Technological change impacted the scope and nature of European voyages –Mastery of the compass and use of the cannon allowed Europeans to go farther and protect themselves Portuguese led the way in exploration –Moved down the coast of west Africa –Rounded the Cape of Good hope –Vasco da Gama arrived in India This brought Europe in direct contact with the east

1492—Spanish ships reached the Americas 1519—Ferdinand Magellan sailed around Cape Horn into the Pacific Northern Europe joined the competition late –These countries soon took the lead –1534—French claimed Canada British followed –Dutch and British focused on commerce Formed East India Companies with monopolies on trade

TOWARD A WORLD ECONOMY Columbian Exchange developed between Europe and the Americas –Voyagers exchanged plants, animals, and microbes –Diets were affected –Populations were decimated by imported disease –Ecological impact was immense

Europeans began to dominate trade –It was still limited to coastlines in most areas –Trading outposts dotted shores of Africa and India –In resistant areas, merchants gathered in areas set aside for them in towns

European competition was spurred by mercantilism –Dictated that colonizers had the monopoly on exports in their colonies This furnished raw goods at low prices –This resulted in large areas of the world being dependant on European goods

During the 1 st phase of colonization, the impact of Europeans was growing, but limited –New systems of forced labor did take root There wasn’t really a world economy because some regions didn’t participate –Chinese tradition kept western influence to a minimum –Japan and Korea limited contact and withdrew from trade –India and the Middle East conducted little trade

17 th century—Volume of trade increased –Britain turned India into a market for its cotton textiles –Western European demands for grain led to increased eastern European production Serfdom was intensified

COLONIAL EXPRESSION Colonization of the American mainland began in Panama Latin America was conquered –Hernan Cortes conquered the Aztecs and Francisco Pizarro conquered the Inca Both were accompanied by missionaries

North American colonies were often havens for religious refugees –France and Britain vied for dominance –Commercial attraction of this area wasn’t great –Europe made headway quickly because there weren’t as many Native Americans in North America

–Europeans maintained their traditions Nuclear family was important North American colonies resembled the home countries more closely than Latin American colonies African colonization was restricted to coastal trading posts –Portuguese search for slaves in Angola and the Dutch Cape Colony were important exceptions

Britain and France fought for control of India –Their impact intensified –British won –1700s—British took a more active role in administering the colony Impact of European colonization was initially greater at home than abroad –Seven Years’ War was the culmination of British and French overseas competition –Growing European reliance on imports changed tastes at home

Europeans intensified their use of forced labor around the world Some areas benefited by the movement of goods made possible by world trade

THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE WEST: BIG CHANGES IN CULTURE AND COMMERCE ( ) 1400s—Italian Renaissance took shape after an abortive start in the 1300s –Humanism was the intellectual basis of the movement Looked to ancient Greece and Rome for inspiration –Humanity was the focus of arts and intellectualism

Northern Renaissance was spurred by merchant wealth –Started some time after the Italian Renaissance –Focused on the perfection of man in a Christian context –Shakespeare represented this movement –Monarchies were strong and dynamic

1400s—Printing press changed communication Enduring European-style family became prevalent –This was based on the nuclear family

Protestant Reformation reshaped the religious and political map of Europe –Started by Martin Luther –Reformers promoted public education –Role of the Catholic Church was curtailed –Catholic Church did attempt some reforms

Religious strife led to growing nationalist conflicts –Thirty Years War—Spain v. Holy Roman Empire Fought over religion and nationalism –English Civil War was fought over religion and parliamentary power Religious issues were resolved but the balance of political power had been upset –Social changes resulted including improvement in the position of women

European economy was transformed by: –Influx of gold and silver from Latin America –Markets that grew as colonization advanced Commercial agriculture was the most common activity in Europe Material wealth for average Europeans increased

The emerging proletariat was hurt by economic changes –1600s—Popular uprisings were common Wanted a greater political voice for workers Persecution of witches was fueled by fear and hatred on the part of the poor

SCIENCE AND POLITICS: THE NEXT PHASE OF CHANGE Scientific Revolution transformed all areas of thought in Europe Copernicus introduced the heliocentric theory –Revolutionized the western view of the cosmos Kepler made planetary observations

Galileo’s research utilized the telescope Descartes and Newton established the scientific approach to knowledge The philosophy of Deism was influenced by scientific studies Locke said that everything could be known through the use of reason

Monarchy became absolute –Led by France –Monarchs had larger bureaucracies and elaborate court rituals –Central monarchs followed the French model Their power was strengthened by their victory over the Turks –Ideas about the sovereignty of the people developed in Britain and the Netherlands Representative law-making bodies limited the power of monarchs

All European countries were alike in that they were nation-states –People with a common culture within a clearly defined boundary –Nation-states were continually at odds with one another