Power World History - Chapter 13

Power World History - Chapter 13

• Chapter 13 focuses on political transformations and encounters from 1450-1750.

European Empires in the Americas

• European Advantage:

  • Geography and favorable winds aided European exploration and conquest.
  • European societies, driven by perceived marginality, land hunger, and social pressures, sought expansion.
  • Advanced organization, technology (including weaponry and navigation), and local alliances supported European dominance.
  • The introduction of Old World diseases decimated indigenous populations.

• The Great Dying:

  • An estimated 60-80 million people died as a result of diseases to which they lacked immunity.
  • European introduced Old World diseases were devastating.
  • The indigenous populations suffered a severe demographic collapse.

• Columbian Exchange:

  • The exchange of people, plants, animals, and germs between the Americas and the Old World.
  • The exchange led to the transfer of crops like corn and potatoes to Europe, Africa, and Asia.
  • The Americas contributed tobacco, chocolate, and other goods.
  • Key exports from the Americas included silver, slaves, and sugarcane.
  • Europe was the primary beneficiary of the trade.

• Colonial Societies in the Americas:

  • Aztecs and Incas:

    • Structures like encomienda, repartimiento, and haciendas characterized this region's social organization.
    • Distinctions and social hierarchies like Creoles, peninsulares, mestizos, and castas emerged.
    • Indigenous populations were a substantial component of the society.

  • Colonies of Sugar:

    • Portuguese Brazil dominated the 1570-1670 sugarcane trade.

  • Settler Colonies in North America:

    • British colonization of North America involved a society in transition, with class distinctions alongside gender inequalities.
    • Racial mixing was limited compared to other empires.
    • Protestantism and a less centralized royal control characterized these settlements.

The Steppes and Siberia: The Making of a Russian Empire

• Experiencing the Russian Empire:

  • Russia's expansion involved conquest and the gathering of tribute (yasak).
  • Settlers put pressure on nomadic pastoralist communities.

• Russians and Empire:

  • Russia became a multiethnic empire.
  • The Russian Empire accumulated significant wealth.
  • Peter the Great, ruling from 1689 to 1725, engaged with Western Europe.
  • Extensive contact with China and Islamic realms fostered cultural exchange.

Asian Empires

• Making China an Empire:

  • The Qing dynasty expanded westward (1680-1760).
  • It's debatable whether or not the process qualifies as colonialism.
  • Economic issues arose in central Asia.

• Muslims and Hindus in the Mughal Empire:

  • The Mughal Empire had a population of roughly 20% Muslims.
  • Significant figures like Akbar (r. 1556-1605) and Ahmad Sirhindi (1564-1624) shaped its trajectory.
  • Aurangzeb (1658-1707) also left an impact.

• Muslims and Christians in the Ottoman Empire:

  • The Ottoman Empire wielded its influence through the expression "The Sword of Islam".
  • Women’s autonomy was constrained albeit with specific rights. The importance of Turkic groups increased in the Islamic world.
  • Balkan, Armenian, and Orthodox Christians were part of the wider Ottoman Empire.
  • The empire was observed with a combination of fear and respect in the west.

This quiz covers Chapter 13 of Power World History, focusing on the political transformations and encounters during the period from 1450 to 1750. Key topics include the European empires in the Americas, the Great Dying due to Old World diseases, and the Columbian Exchange's impact on global history.