Unit 07: Exploration, Expansion, & Global Trade, 1450-1750

Unit Summary In the last unit, students learned about the Renaissance and Reformation and how these movements encouraged an outpouring of intellectual curiosity. This unit looks at the development of the Commercial Revolution and mercantilism. Both developments help to fund the Age of Exploration through the sponsorship of massive voyages of exploration. Students learn about the new navigational techniques encouraged in Prince Henry the Navigator's school, the voyages undertaken by European explorers in the Age of Exploration, and the products, diseases, and animals that were exchanged between the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa in this unit. Additionally, students will learn about the impact of exploration and the Triangular Trade on Asians, Africans, Europeans, and Native Americans.

Big Ideas The creation of the Commercial Revolution funded the Age of Exploration and led to the discovery of new West African coastal trade routes and of the continents of North and South America. Global trade, including Mediterranean, Indian Ocean and Atlantic Ocean trade, shifted to European control. The Columbian Exchange and the Atlantic Triangular Trade impacted Asians, Africans, Europeans, and Native Americans.

Essential Questions What was Ming China’s impact on global trade? What technical developments made transoceanic European travel and trade possible? What new financial and monetary means made new avenues of trade possible? What was the impact of the Columbian Exchange on the Americas and Europe? What were the economic and social causes and effects of the Atlantic Triangular Trading System?  

THE RISE OF THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE, THE INFLUENCE OF THE MING DYNASTY ON WORLD TRADE, EUROPEAN EXPLORATION AND THE COLUMBIAN EXCHANGE, EUROPEAN EXPANSION Rise of Ottoman EmpireOverran Constantinople in 1453 Continued westward expansion into Balkan peninsula Controlled territorial trade Friendly relations with the West

Influence of the Ming Dynasty Zheng He commanded a huge Ming Dynasty fleet that traded and collected tribute throughout the Indian Ocean basin. Introduced Ming porcelain, tea and silk to Indian Ocean trade. Ming Dynasty controlled East Asia for 300 years. Revived Silk Road Trade for a time.

European Exploration and Expansion PortuguesePrince Henry the Navigator built a school of navigation to circumvent Muslim Mediterranean trade and find another route India Portuguese came to control all Indian Ocean trade. Claimed control of Brazil in South America.

Spanish Funded Columbus’s expedition to the West to locate Asian trade. As a result of Columbus “discovery” of the New World, Spain came to control over half of the new territory. Conquered both the Aztecs in Mexico and the Incas in Peru for control of territory and resources. Explored and colonized the southern coastal areas of North America. Explored and colonized the California coastal areas of North America. Established colonial commercial plantations (encomienda system) and mines in the New World, using indigenous populations and later African slaves as labor. Controlled much of the sugar, gold and silver trade Built Christian missions in all areas of conquest and converted large numbers of the indigenous populations to Christianity.

Other European New World Exploration French. Explored North America from Canada along the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico. British. Explored and colonized the East Coast of North America. Columbian Exchange Trade and cultural exchange between the New World and the Old World. The global transfer of diseases, foods, plants, and animals between Europe & the Americas. These products became staples on both continents.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SLAVE TRADE The Middle Passage (slave trade) of the Triangular Trade The effects of the demand for sugar and plantation labor on the African slave trade The effects of the slave trade on African development and population.

THE MAJOR POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENTS OF THE MAYA, INCA, AND AZTEC CIVILIZATIONS The Olmec civilization (1200 BC-400 BC) influence on Mayan civilization   Bering Strait migrants to Mesoamerica   Mesoamerica’s primary culture, located on Mexico’s Gulf coast, constructed large stone heads, built large earthen pyramids, ruling class consisted of elite priests and nobles, large trade network across Mesoamerica Zapotec civilization (1000 BC - 600 AD) influenced the Aztec civilzation  Southwest Mexico – Oaxaca Stone pyramids and religious temples Solar calendar Hieroglyphic writing

Andean cultures that influenced Inca Civilization (900 BC - 200 BC) Chavín (900BC-200BC) – religious civilization religious images and styles of art spread throughout Peru Nazca (200 BC - 600 AD) underground waterways textiles ceramics Nazca Lines = large illustrations of their gods in the fields

HOW THE INCA AND AZTECS EMPIRES WERE IMPACTED BY EUROPEAN/ COLONIZATION 1519 - Hernando Cortes conquered the Aztecs 1532 - Francisco Pizarro conquered the Incas Used advanced tactics & technology = “guns, germs, and steel” brought horses over for transportation Superior weapons – muskets, cannons, armor European & African diseases wiped out local populations no natural immunities smallpox, mumps, measles, & typhus forced conversion to Christianity local opposition resulted in violent resistance mestizos = new social class created because of intermarriages with natives encomienda system = brutal and forced labor on ranches, farms, and mines

CAUSES OF EUROPEAN EXPANSION FROM 1450 TO 1750 The Catholic Church’s desire to increase its power and to convert Native Americans to Christianity Renaissance ideas that encouraged exploration and the exchange of ideas The desire to find new trade routes, profits, and spices New shipping and sailing technologies The desire to increase a country’s power Support by absolute monarchies who wanted to increase their power and wealth