1. Warm Up Who is involved most heavily in trade from 1500-1600?
Who is left out of this trade?
Who does this seem to favor most heavily?
What impact do you think this would have on the world?

2. Discuss with neighbor:
What does this graph tell us?
Why might that have been bad news around 1400?

3. Crises of the Late Middle Ages
Asia conquered by Mongols. Causes major depopulation and disrupts ancient patterns of trade and civilization.
Black Death strikes Eurasia, killing tens to hundreds of millions.
Little Ice Age drops global temperatures. Causes major disruptions to farming. Numerous famines begin.
Numerous long, bloody wars—especially in Europe.

4. Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire emerges in the Middle East around 1400.
Reconquers most of the original caliphate.
Is conservative and oppressive
Hated by Europeans, who generally refused to trade with the Ottomans.

5. Ming Dynasty
Ming Dynasty is formed after the Mongols are kicked out in 1368.
Extremely wealthy, powerful state.
Becomes self-sufficient, turning away from most international trade by the 1450s.
By 1600, China enters a period of decline.

6. Western Europe
Spain, France, Portugal, and England emerge from the late middle ages stronger.
The old land-owning class has lost much of its power.
The governments have become centralized and strong.

7. Age of Exploration
A period during which Eurasians sought to discover and exploit previously unknown lands.
Inspired by late medieval explorers such as Ibn Battuta, Marco Polo, and Zheng He.
Primarily conducted by Western European countries.

8. Vasco de Gama
Vasco de Gama’s voyage in discovered a route around Africa.
This allowed Europe to access the Indian Ocean and East Asia without the Ottomans.
The Middle East was left out of international trade, sending the region into long term economic decline.
Trade: 1650 AD

9. Christopher Columbus Brought news of the Americas back to Europe.
Caused the first wave of diffusion between The Americas and Afro-Eurasia.

10. European Colonies
Age of Exploration ends with Western Europe controlling most of America.
Have also taken over the main trade routes of the Indian Ocean.