AP World History POD #11 – Transatlantic Slave Trade New Trade Routes

Class Discussion Notes Bulliet – “Global Maritime Expansion Before 1450”, pp

Maritime Challenges “Since ancient times travel across the world’s seas and oceans had been one of the great challenges to technological ingenuity. Ships had to be sturdy enough to survive heavy winds and seas, pilots had to learn how to cross featureless expanses of water to reach their destinations. In time ships, sails and navigational techniques perfected in the more protected seas were adapted to open oceans.” (Bulliet, p. 420) “Since ancient times travel across the world’s seas and oceans had been one of the great challenges to technological ingenuity. Ships had to be sturdy enough to survive heavy winds and seas, pilots had to learn how to cross featureless expanses of water to reach their destinations. In time ships, sails and navigational techniques perfected in the more protected seas were adapted to open oceans.” (Bulliet, p. 420)

Maritime Rewards Ships were the most efficient means of travel and transportation – they could move goods and people more profitably than any other mode of transportation Ships were the most efficient means of travel and transportation – they could move goods and people more profitably than any other mode of transportation Mystery of the unknown drew the curious to the challenge of crossing these waterways to find new lands, new markets and establish new settlements – adventurers from every continent were willing to take the risk to gain this financial reward Mystery of the unknown drew the curious to the challenge of crossing these waterways to find new lands, new markets and establish new settlements – adventurers from every continent were willing to take the risk to gain this financial reward

State of Travel – circa 1450 C.E. Mariners had discovered and settled most of the islands of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans Mariners had discovered and settled most of the islands of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans Travel across the Pacific in either direction had not been achieved Travel across the Pacific in either direction had not been achieved The Atlantic was an uncrossed barrier separating Europe from the Americas The Atlantic was an uncrossed barrier separating Europe from the Americas Australia was isolated from the rest of the world Australia was isolated from the rest of the world

Pacific Ocean Travel The Polynesians conducted a calculated campaign of island hopping across the Pacific The Polynesians conducted a calculated campaign of island hopping across the Pacific They traveled in large canoes (up to 120 feet long) – they also improved their navigational skills over time – the combination of these advances allowed for voyages over greater distances They traveled in large canoes (up to 120 feet long) – they also improved their navigational skills over time – the combination of these advances allowed for voyages over greater distances Polynesian explorers traveled as far as the Hawaiian Islands, New Zealand and Easter Island no later than 500 C.E. Polynesian explorers traveled as far as the Hawaiian Islands, New Zealand and Easter Island no later than 500 C.E. They eventually came into contact with the Americas where they gained access to the sweet potato (first domesticated in South America) They eventually came into contact with the Americas where they gained access to the sweet potato (first domesticated in South America) Following these early voyages of exploration, larger fleets (double hulls using paddlers and sails) arrived for the purpose of colonization Following these early voyages of exploration, larger fleets (double hulls using paddlers and sails) arrived for the purpose of colonization

Indian Ocean Travel “Other peoples had been using the Indian Ocean for trade since ancient times. Southeast Asia and eastern Africa as well as the Indian subcontinent provided coasts that seafarers might safely follow and coves for protection. Moreover, seasonal winds known as monsoons are so predictable and steady that navigation in these waters using sailing vessels called Dhows was less difficult and dangerous than elsewhere. The rise of medieval Islam gave Indian Ocean trade an important boost. The great Muslim cities of the Middle East provided a demand for valuable commodities, and networks of Muslim traders were active across the region. These traders shared a common language, ethic, and law and actively spread their religion to distant trading cities. By 1400 there were Muslim trading communities all around the Indian Ocean.” (Bulliet, p. 422)

Zheng He & Chinese Trade Most of the Indian Ocean trade operated outside the power and influence of a major world power or empire Most of the Indian Ocean trade operated outside the power and influence of a major world power or empire Imperial China under the Ming Dynasty, however, grew increasingly more interested in participating in and controlling this trade route and sent out 7 imperial fleets between 1405 and 1433 commanded by Zheng He Imperial China under the Ming Dynasty, however, grew increasingly more interested in participating in and controlling this trade route and sent out 7 imperial fleets between 1405 and 1433 commanded by Zheng He Zheng He was a Chinese Muslim with connections to the Persian Gulf – he recorded his findings along the way and when these were relayed to the people of China, great enthusiasm and excitement arose Zheng He was a Chinese Muslim with connections to the Persian Gulf – he recorded his findings along the way and when these were relayed to the people of China, great enthusiasm and excitement arose These voyages filled the “treasure ships” (Chinese Junk) making the emperor very wealthy These voyages filled the “treasure ships” (Chinese Junk) making the emperor very wealthy Eventually, the late Ming and early Qing emperors stopped financing and supporting these missions choosing instead to adopt a more isolationist foreign policy Eventually, the late Ming and early Qing emperors stopped financing and supporting these missions choosing instead to adopt a more isolationist foreign policy

Atlantic Ocean Trade The Vikings were the greatest mariners of the Atlantic in the early Middle Ages. These northern European raiders used their small, open ships to attack Europe’s coastal settlements for several centuries. The Vikings were the greatest mariners of the Atlantic in the early Middle Ages. These northern European raiders used their small, open ships to attack Europe’s coastal settlements for several centuries. Evidence does indicate that there was some African maritime voyages, these were often conducted by the Muslim merchants in the Mali Empire Evidence does indicate that there was some African maritime voyages, these were often conducted by the Muslim merchants in the Mali Empire Amerindians began to explore the western Atlantic and Caribbean Sea establishing colonies in what would become the West Indies Amerindians began to explore the western Atlantic and Caribbean Sea establishing colonies in what would become the West Indies

What Changed? Renaissance curiosity of the world encouraged exploration Renaissance curiosity of the world encouraged exploration The Europeans impressed and influenced by the explorations and writings of Marco Polo became obsessed with finding a faster and shorter trade route to the spices and riches of the east The Europeans impressed and influenced by the explorations and writings of Marco Polo became obsessed with finding a faster and shorter trade route to the spices and riches of the east Ottoman Turks will defeat the Byzantine Empire in 1453 disrupting overland trade routes to the east and shutting down European access to the slave of eastern Europe (Slavic peoples) Ottoman Turks will defeat the Byzantine Empire in 1453 disrupting overland trade routes to the east and shutting down European access to the slave of eastern Europe (Slavic peoples) Commercial Revolution – as Europe awoke from its semi-isolationist slumber during the Crusades, trade restarted leading to the establishment of new wealth in the region – GREED for even greater riches encouraged the quest for new lands and new markets Commercial Revolution – as Europe awoke from its semi-isolationist slumber during the Crusades, trade restarted leading to the establishment of new wealth in the region – GREED for even greater riches encouraged the quest for new lands and new markets The wealth from the newly emerging commercial revolution filled the treasury of the great European nations allowing state financing for exploration The wealth from the newly emerging commercial revolution filled the treasury of the great European nations allowing state financing for exploration Protestant Reformation – as the European continent exploded into a series of religious wars, many people desired new locations to move to and settle where they could freely practice their chosen faith – missionaries looked at these new lands as new souls to add to their faithful through conversion Protestant Reformation – as the European continent exploded into a series of religious wars, many people desired new locations to move to and settle where they could freely practice their chosen faith – missionaries looked at these new lands as new souls to add to their faithful through conversion