Transoceanic Connections and Global Encounters Readings: Spodek, , 421,

Eurasia and Africa Very Connected Center of Trade— Asia: Japan Moluccas China India

Southernization

Central Area of Early Modern Trade and Empire Centered on Inida India Early Began Exporting Cotton, especially to Egypt, the Mediterranean, and East Africa 400 C.E. Malay sailors trading goods from Easter Island to East Africa –Rode the monsoons without a compass –Used square pivot sails that allowed them to sail into the wind, by tacking against it—the prototype of the triangular lateen sail

China and Early Trade Cities on China’s southern coasts became centers of overseas commerce Exported silk, porcelain, iron hardware— needles, scissors, and cooking pots To facilitate commerce, conquest, and government—invented printing and paper, gunpowder, and the compass

Rise of Muslim World

Muslim Trade Spread crops developed or improved in India to Middle East, North Africa, and Islamic Spain: Sugar, cotton, and citrus fruits Arabs first to import large numbers of enslaved Africans to produce sugar By 1000 sugarcane major crop in Yemen, Arabia, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Egypt, the Mahgrib, Spain and Mediterranean areas controlled by Muslims—in many places had to develop sophisticated irrigation Also spread cotton from Iran and Central Asia to Spain and the Mediterranean Used silver from mines they developed in Afghanistan and gold from across the Sahara

Southernization reached Zenith after 1200 because of Rise of Mongols Mongols wrecked many southern trade centers in China, southern India, and maritime Southeast Asia Mongols controlled overland routes between Europe and Asia in 13 th and 14 th Centuries While stopped some trading networks, Mongols retained unified world markets except on fringes (Africa, Mediterranean, and Japan) Allowed southern Mediterranean areas to gain older Muslim markets in Sugar and Cotton -Increasingly integral to European commerce -But most of world still dominated by Islamic faith

EUROPE’S PROBLEMS Europe increasingly on Periphery Rise of Great Islamic Empires, especially the Ottoman Empire Spread of Arab Traders Problems gets worse With Conquest of Constantinople/Istanbul, the Great Byzantine City

East Africans & African Voyages and Europe’s Problem East Africans—the Swahilis controlled the Indian Ocean Trade until Annihilated by the Portuguese. Possibility of African Voyages Across the Atlantic. Europe’s Problem was how to get past Islamic Middleman for Cheaper Goods: Several Voyages around Africa; Complicated by Currents and Winds Must at least get to Africa then Sail almost to Brazil.

Islamic Dominance and the Rise of Europe’s North Portuguese became active traders with rise of Chinese compass, Arab knowledge, and lateen sail (in most recent incarnation Arab) Once moved into world trade—seized tropical and subtropical territories as they sailed around Africa and moved into the Southern Ocean trade

Europe’s Problem and Solutions Columbus Solution: Sail across the Atlantic Why was Columbus’ voyage possible? –The Printing Press –Maps –Travel Accounts like Marco Polo’s –Inventions

Timeline 1492—Thinking he reached islands near China, Columbus probably hit what is now the Dominican Republic 1497 Vasco Da Gama sails around Cape of Good Horn (Africa) 1501—Amerigo Vespucci 1513—Vasco Nunez de Balboa —Ferdinand Magellan

Timeline (Continued) Treaty of Tordesillas - happened with the blessing of the Pope 1501—Slaves brought to Americas 1505—Portuguese destroy Kilwa 1522—Spanish conquer the Americas and the Americas are incorporated into Eurasian trade 1542 Spanish claim the Philippines and later create the Manila Galleon