1. Anna Fyalkowski, Liz Joseph, Christian Marvilli and Jason Pymento

2.  Cartography (map making), compasses, rudders (from IOT trade with Chinese), lateen sails, caravel ships. [Naval technology to better trade and exploration and expedition]

3.  Gutenberg’s printing press >>> heightened the spread of the Protestant Reformation.  Bible production increased with the press, also increasing literacy rates drastically in addition to the introduction of vernacular writing.

4.  The scientific revolution brought about secular ideas (Copernicus, Newtn, etc.)  The Enlightenment sprouted ideas of government and human nature (humanism, individualism).  India, the Middle East and China begin to fall behind.

5.  Works of literature about conquest that assisted Cortez and Pizarro and their efforts regarding the Aztecs and Inca respectively.  Military technology such as guns and firearms (and superior metal weaponry in general) that aided in the conquest of Latin America.

6.  Period of intellectual and artistic development from the Aztecs and Inca ends with their conquest by the Spanish conquistadors.  Spanish and Portugese establish areas in the New World.

7.  Usage of specialized slave transport ships … for the Triangular trade with the Americas/ West Indes.  Language mix and the formations of Creole tongues fusing English and African languages.  Music integration of Africans and English (syncretism)

9.  Slavery was a preexistent phenomenon in Sub-Saharan Africa where Africans themselves were slaves. Despite the major demographic change (population decrease in Africa and population increase in the Americas), they still maintained their basic culture and fused it with European influence.

10.  Creation of huge ships designed for long distance travel during the expeditions of Zheng He.  The Ming and Manchu (Qing) leaders reintroduced the civil service examinations for government positions as part of the scholar gentry.  Jesuit missionaries and European traders brought items such as the clock and prism as well as fixed the Chinese calendar.  Great Wall of China to protect from invaders.

12.  The Kabuki and Bunraku theaters of Japanese entertainment (puppets and actors)  Haiku poetry, Japanese art and calligraphy.  Interaction with the Dutch led to information from the outside world.

13.  In China, the reintroduction of the civil service exam revived the custom of China before the Yuan Dynasty.  Confucianism encouraged the civil service exam and increased the number of Confucian scholars and essentially education.  In Japan and in China, their inherent and everlasting ethnocentric views directed them to isolationism and ultimately their withdrawl from the technological/intellectual race with Europeans and Muslims.

14.  Ottomans – creation of the Suleymaniye mosque that blended the architecture of the Middle East and that of the Byzantines.  Safavids – creation of the Ali Qapu, the palace that was built in the center of the capital Isfahan.  Mughals – creation of miniature illustrations and the Taj Mahal.

16.  Great development and advancement regarding gun and firearm technology (hence the name “Gunpowder Empires”)  Through expansion they absorbed all intellectual developments of their conquered regions, but did not change their art (calligraphy, etc.) and many other foreign ideas.

17. Comparison China and Middle East Both turned inward to control internal affairs and to preserve their cultures. Both regarded foreign ideas and influence to be disruptive to their ways. As a result both fell behind technologically/intellectually despite their head start earlier. Because of their dispositions they had to rely on European advancements to better themselves and keep general pace.