Unit IV Big Picture Early Modern Period

1. Globalizing Networks of Communication and Exchange

Intensification of existing networks and development of new ones in the Atlantic New technology: astrolabes, more exact cartography, caravels Naval voyages of Zheng He Henry the Navigator and the first school of navigation Spanish sponsorship of Columbus’ voyage

New transoceanic shipping and a global economy European joint-stock companies => Mercantilism and capitalism develop Silver from New World brought to Europe and used to buy Asian goods Focus still on regional markets in Afro-Eurasia trade routes European merchants transported goods around the world from one market to another

Columbian Exchange Due to European colonization of the New World Spread of diseases, mosquitoes, and rats that negatively affected New World population American foods (potatoes, maize, manioc) spread to Europe and supplemented diets Livestock (cattle, horses, pigs) brought to Americas, affecting ecosystems African slaves brought okra, rice, bananas to America

Triangle Trade Slaves from Africa to the New World Raw material from the Americas to Europe Manufactured goods from Europe to Africa and the Americas

Diffusion of religion Islam continued to spread throughout Africa, creating syncretic religions with traditional African religions Christianity, both Catholicism and Protestantism spreads to the Americas Sunni/Shia split intensifies with the Ottoman and Savafid Empires Sikhism created in Punjab region of India; voodoo created in Caribbean islands

2. New Forms of Social Organization and Modes of Production

Workforce changes Intensification of peasant labor Frontier settlements and serfdom in Russia Cotton textile production in India Silk production in China Coercive labor systems in the Americas Cash crops (sugar, tobacco, cotton) grown on plantations that required slave labor Indentured servitude Encomienda and hacienda systems Spanish adaption of Incan mit’a system

New social classes Casta system in Spanish America Manchus in China European gentry and bourgeoisie Urban commercial entrepreneurs in all major global port cities However, nobility in Europe and the daimyo in Japan still retained positions in society

3. State Consolidation and Imperial Expansion

Rulers used a variety of methods to legitimize their power Monumental architecture, courtly literature, visual arts Religion Divine Right (Europe) Shi’ism (Safavid) Sunni Islam (Songhai, Ottomans’ jizya) Confucianism (China) Manchu persecution of ethnic Chinese

Expansion of Empires Land empires: Maritime empires: Manchu Mughal Ottoman Russian Maritime empires: Portuguese Spanish Dutch French British

Competitions and Rivalries Competition over Indian Ocean/Asian trade routes Piracy in the Caribbean Ottoman-Safavid conflict Religious wars of Europe Samurai revolts and peasant uprisings