History of the World

Study Notes

Major trade route connecting China with the Mediterranean region (2nd century BCE - 15th century CE)
Facilitated exchange of goods, ideas, and cultures between East Asia, Central Asia, and Europe
Key goods traded: silk, spices, tea, porcelain, and precious stones
Played a significant role in the development of civilizations, including the Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire, and Chinese dynasties

Period of European exploration and colonization of the Americas, Africa, and Asia
Key figures: Christopher Columbus, Vasco da Gama, Ferdinand Magellan, and Juan Sebastián Elcano
Motivations: spread of Christianity, search for new trade routes, and desire for wealth and power
Consequences: transfer of plants, animals, and diseases between the Old and New Worlds, and the devastation of indigenous populations

Transition from manual labor to machine-based manufacturing, and from rural to urban societies
Key innovations: steam engine, textile machines, and railroad
Impact: increased productivity, economic growth, and urbanization, but also exploitation of workers and environmental degradation
Countries that industrialized first: Britain, followed by other European nations and the United States

Period of geopolitical tension and competition between the United States and the Soviet Union
Key features: proxy wars, espionage, propaganda, and the threat of nuclear war
Divided Europe into Eastern and Western blocs, with the Berlin Wall as a physical barrier
Ended with the collapse of the Soviet Union and the fall of communism

Policy of extending a country's power and influence through colonization and domination
European powers (e.g., Britain, France, Germany, and Belgium) established colonies in Africa, Asia, and the Americas
Motivations: economic gain, strategic advantage, and the spread of Christianity and "civilization"
Consequences: exploitation of native resources and labor, destruction of indigenous cultures, and the rise of nationalist and anti-colonial movements

Cultural and intellectual movement that originated in Italy and spread to Europe
Key features: humanism, revival of classical learning, and innovations in art, literature, and science
Notable figures: Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Galileo Galilei, and William Shakespeare
Impact: laid the groundwork for the Enlightenment and the scientific revolution

Period of ideological and intellectual ferment, characterized by the rise of various "isms"
Key "isms":
- Nationalism: emphasis on national identity and self-determination
- Liberalism: advocacy for individual rights, free markets, and democracy
- Conservatism: support for traditional institutions and social hierarchies
- Socialism: critique of capitalism and advocacy for collective ownership of the means of production

Key revolutions:
- French Revolution (1789-1799): overthrow of the monarchy and establishment of the First Republic
- American Revolution (1765-1783): independence from Britain and the creation of the United States
- Russian Revolution (1917): overthrow of the tsarist regime and the establishment of the Soviet Union
- Chinese Revolution (1911-1949): overthrow of the Qing dynasty and the establishment of the People's Republic of China
Causes: political and social grievances, economic inequality, and the spread of Enlightenment ideas
Consequences: reshaped the modern world, led to the rise of new ideologies, and inspired future revolutions

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