UNIT IV: THE WORLD SHRINKS 1450 – 1750
Pages 514 – 521
I. SUMMARY
A. Introduction
Many developments highlighted world history between 1450 and 1750, which marked a major new period – the early modern – in the global experience. The balance of power among major civilizations shifted; western Europe became the most dramatic force worldwide. Contacts among the civilizations intensified. The world became smaller as trade affected diverse societies and the speed and size of ships increased. The growth of commerce affected all continents but its greatest impact was in western Europe. New empires based on technology and new forms of organization arose. Two types were land-based and maritime commercial empires.
B. On the Eve of the Early Modern Period: The World around 1450
When this period began, no one civilization predominated in world affairs; a power vacuum existed. A number of powerful societies arose during the post-classical period. A Russian empire expanded across the steppes and forests of Eurasia. Western European regional kingdoms, attempting to expand in Europe, turned to overseas colonial empires. Gunpowder empires with strong governments arose on the Sahel of Africa, across the Middle East and India, and in China, yet by the end of the period, all were powerless to oppose the growing political, economic, and military power of many European states.
C. The Rise of the West
Between 1450 and 1750, western Europe, headed initially by Spain and Portugal, and then by Holland, France, and England, gained control of the key international trade routes and established colonies across the globe. At the same time, the West itself changed rapidly and by the end of the period had assumed a position similar to the role of Islam from 1000 to 1450.
D. The World Economy, Global Contacts, and Global Changes
Fed by new naval technologies, the world network intensified and took on new dimensions. The Europeans came to dominate international trade. The world network expanded to global proportions as all continents were brought into contacts. The new globalism led to many exchanges including flora and fauna, humans, diseases, goods, and ideas. Unequal relationships arose, as slavery and serfdom spread. For the first time, humans began to have an adverse effect on the environment as migrating settlers cleared forests, overworked the soil, and transplanted plants, animals, and foodstuffs across the globe.
II. UNIT OVERVIEW
A. What does the unit’s title “The world shrinks” mean?
B. What developments signaled the end of the post-classical era?
C. What characteristics, trends, and themes typified the early modern period?
D. What new states arose and became important actors during this period?
E. How did Western Europe come to dominate the early modern period?
F. How did the world economy change?
G. How would you describe labor systems during this period?
H. What global exchanges occurred and how did they affect the globe?
I. How did state structures change in this period?
III. VOCABULARY
A. Columbian Exchanges
B. Gunpowder Empires
C. Colonial(-ism)
D. Early Modern
IV. MAP EXERCISE: Changing World Boundaries, 1453 to 1700 C.E. (Page 518)
A. What are the main changes on the map from 1453 to 1700?
B. What areas have had:
1. The most changes?
2. The fewest changes?
C. Where did the Europeans spread and settle?
D. Why do you think European colonial empires spread in some areas but not others?
V. TIMELINE CHRONOLOGY: 1450 – 1750 (Pages 516 – 517)
A. Beginnings
1. If we begin at 1453, what event(s) seem(s) to signal this era?
2. Why would that be a major transition from post-classical to this age?
3. What other major events between 1300 and 1500 seem to involve radical departures from the past?
B. Trends
1. Which people seem to dominate the timeline?
2. What one trend or theme, which seems to predominate during this era?
C. The End
1. If we end at 1750, what breaks with tradition could be seen as a catalyst for changes? Why?
2. Why might it be difficult to end this period? Is the end date arbitrary? Why?
VI. PHOTO ESSAY: Da Vinci’s Man (Page 514)
This famous drawing typifies the creative spirit of the Italian Renaissance. Typically associated with the work is a famous statement, “Man is the Measure of All Things.” What does this statement mean and what might it mean for the Early Modern Era?
VII. MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
1. During the Early Modern period in world history, which region, culture, ideology, or civilization came to dominate the world?
A. Muslim
B. Chinese
C. American
D. European
E. Communism
2. The most predominant form of state structure during this period was
A. Land-based or maritime empires utilizing military technologies.
B. The small trade-based capitalist state such as the Netherlands (Holland).
C. Democratic states.
D. Decentralized government.
E. Theocratic states.
3. All of these were gunpowder empires EXCEPT:
A. Safavid Persia.
B. Ottoman Turkey.
C. Mughal India.
D. Ming China.
E. Tokugawa Japan.
4. The date and event which commonly begin this period are
A. 1405 and the Chinese Indian Ocean naval expeditions.
B. 1453 and the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople.
C. 1492 and Columbus’ discoveries.
D. 1498 when Vasco da Gama reached India.
E. 1517 when Martin Luther began his reformation.
5. A major feature of the early modern globalization of international trade was the
A. Dominance of trade by the Muslims.
B. Intentional isolation of countries from participating in international trade.
C. Unequal economic and commercial relationships and the dependence of many other states on European states.
D. Decline of the luxury trade.
E. Decrease of unfree labor such as slavery and serfdom.
6. The major development between 1450 and 1750 was the rise of
A. The first truly global world trade network.
B. Empires ruling transcontinental land masses.
C. Mass migrations of peoples.
D. Capitalism as the dominant economic ideology.
E. Almost instantaneous global communication network.
7. Fundamental to the European acquisition of colonies between 1450 and 1750 was
A. The superiority of European military technologies against the Turks, Persians, and Mughal Indians.
B. The lack of immunity amongst the American, African, and Asians to European diseases.
C. European naval and maritime technologies.
D. Lack of opposition.
E. European overpopulation, which allowed large armies and provided willing settlers.
8. The culture or lifestyle which had influenced world history since the Neolithic revolution but which ceased to play any role after this era was
A. Islamic civilization.
B. Chinese civilization.
C. Agricultural societies.
D. Religion.
E. Pastoral nomadic cultures.
9. All world labor systems during the Early Modern period can be characterized as
A. Increasingly slave-oriented.
B. Increasingly serf, sharecropper or tenant farmer associated.
C. Increasingly capitalist with wages paid for work.
D. Largely unfree.
E. Machine-based and electrically powered.
10. The Columbian exchanges involved all of these global movements EXCEPT:
A. European diseases devastated the Americas.
B. American foodstuffs and crops spread around the world.
C. Africans were forcibly transported to the Americas.
D. European transplanted their crops, animals, and economic systems to the Americas.
E. Indian populations were resettled to the Pacific islands and African lands.
VIII. ESSAYS
A. Compare and contrast the post-classical and early modern periods for changes, which ended the previous period and led to the rise of a new era.
B. How did the international situation change from the post-classical to the early modern period (change over time)?
C. How did the international role of Europe change from the post-classical to the early modern period (change over time)?
D. Compare and contrast the role of Islam in the post-classical era with the dominance of Europe in the early modern period.
UNIT IV GEOGRAPHY: THE EARLY MODERN WORLD, 1450 - 1750
The oceans and seas were at the center of the Early Modern world. When the Europeans found land expansion limited, they took to the open water. The Atlantic Ocean and its neighboring seas and coasts joined the world system for the first time. On the continents, land-based empires utilizing military technologies and favoring trade established powerful empires. Consequently straits and islands became important as conduits for movement between empires and civilizations. Along these routes, great trading entrepôt trading cities arose. Primate cities also established great importance as centers for government.
I. LOCATE
A. PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
1. Philippine Islands
2. Cuba
3. Hispanola
4. Cape of Good Hope
5. Bab el Mandeb
6. Strait of Hormuz
7. Straits of Dover
8. English Channel
9. Cape Horn
10. Mozambique Channel
11. Bight of Benin
B. CITIES
1. London
2. Paris
3. Delhi
4. Amsterdam
5. Beijing
6. Moscow
7. St. Petersburg
8. Vienna
9. Isfahan
10. Malacca
11. Calicut
12. Guangzhou
13. Istanbul
14. Sofala
15. Mombasa
16. Goa
17. Lisbon
18. Cadiz
19. Kyoto
II. IDENTIFY AND LOCATE
A. HISTORIC STATES
1. Russian Empire
2. Ottoman Empire
3. Safavid Empire
4. Mughal Empire
5. Ming, Ching China
6. England
7. Spain
8. Portugal
9. France
10. Netherlands
11. Mali, Songhai
12. Congo, Angola
13. Monomotapa
14. Shogunate Japan
B. EUROPEAN COLONIAL EMPIRES
1. Dutch
2. English
3. French
4. Spanish
5. Portuguese
CHAPTER 22: THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE WEST, 1450 – 1750
Page 522 – 541
I. SUMMARY
A. The First Big Changes: Culture and Commerce
During the 15th century the Renaissance emphasized new styles and beliefs. This was followed by even more sweeping cultural and political changes in the 16th century, with the Protestant and Catholic Reformations, and the political changes both engendered. During the Commercial Revolution, a new commercial and social structure grew as well, creating new opportunities and new grievances.
B. Scientific and Politics: The Net Phase of Change
As the impact of the Reformation and commercialization continued, new scientific discoveries and political forms took shape from 1600 onward. These two forces shaped a new round of change that continued into the 18th century. The revolution in science set the seal on the cultural reorientation of the west. After the political upheavals of the Reformation, a more decisive set of new government forms arose in the West centering on the emergence of the nation-state. Simultaneously, the functions of the state expanded.
C. The West by 1750
The three great currents of change – commercialization, cultural reorientation, and the rise of the nation-state – continued to operate in the West after 1700, along with the growing international influence of the West. These flowered simultaneously during the Enlightenment. Each current produced new changes that furthered the overall transformation of the west. Even as absolutism gave way to enlightened despotism in states, parliamentary government expanded and a new school of economics, capitalism, and new forms of commerce arose.
D. Conclusion: Innovation and Instability
By the 18th century, the strands of change – commercial, cultural, and the political – were increasingly intertwined in Western civilization. Stronger governments promoted agricultural improvements, which help prod population growth. Changes in popular beliefs were fed by new economic structures; both encouraged a reevaluation of the family and the roles of children. New beliefs also raised new political changes. Enlightenment ideas about liberty and fundamental human equality could be directed against existing regimes. New family practices might have political implications as well. These changes would eventually give rise to several critical political revolutions and the Industrial Revolution.
II. CHAPTER REVIEW
A. How did the two Reformations change European culture and society?
B. What new economic and commercial structures arose during the period and how did they fundamentally redefine the European institutions?
C. How did the Renaissance and Scientific Revolution affect intellectual life and promote changes in popular outlook?
D. What new ideas arose during this period and how did they change European society?
E. How did European governments, attitudes towards government, and state structures change during this period?
F. What was the relationship between the Enlightenment and changes in popular culture and government?
G. What changes occurred in social structures, families, and gender relations?
III. VOCABULARY
A. Renaissance
B. Humanism
C. European family style
D. Protestant, Catholic reformations
E. Indulgences
F. Anglican Church
G. Predestination
H. Jesuits
I. Commercial Revolution
J. Proletariat
K. Witchcraft persecution
L. Scientific Revolution
M. Heliocentric universe
N. Deism
O. Absolute monarchy
P. Mercantilism
Q. Parliamentary monarchy
R. Enlightenment
S. Classical Economics
T. Socialists
U. Capitalism
IV. MAP EXERCISES
A. Map 22.1: Western Europe during the Renaissance and Reformation (Page 529)
1. Using the map on page 877 and 529, what modern nations are:
a. Catholic?
b. Anglican?
c. Lutheran?
d. Calvinist?
e. Eastern Orthodox?
f. Muslim?
2. What European nations are divided by religion?
3. How might two religions in a nation affect its development?
B. Map 22.2: Europe under Absolute Monarchy, 1715 (Page 534)
1. Which modern nations (see map on page 877) already exist in 1715?
2. Which modern nations have not yet emerged?
3. Why would it be different to govern the Holy Roman Empire and Italy?
V. PHOTO ESSAY: Secularization of Western Society
Using photos on pages 522, 527, 528, 531, 533, 537, and 539, look up and define secularization and humanism. The era 1450 – 1750 witnessed the increasing secularization of society and faith in human reason. How do the photos represent these qualities?
VI. DOCUMENT ANALYSIS: Controversies About Women (Page 538)
A. Document Analysis
1. Who wrote each? (Attribution includes biographical references)
2. What were the authors’ points of view?
3. How reliable are the documents? Why?
4. What were the intents or purposes behind the documents?