Transoceanic Encounters and European Transformation

Transoceanic Encounters and Global Connections

• Manila Galleons/Silver Trade: A significant trade route connecting Asia and America, primarily focused on silver from the Americas to Asia.

• James Cook: European explorer known for voyages of discovery in the Pacific Ocean.

• Dutch and Swahili City-States: Interaction and trade between the Dutch and the East African Swahili city-states.

The Transformation of Europe

• King Henry VIII's Reformation: Henry VIII's break from the Catholic Church, establishing the Church of England.

• Witch Hunting: Widespread persecution of individuals accused of witchcraft, during this period.

• Thirty Years' War and the Peace of Westphalia: European conflict that led to the Peace of Westphalia, establishing the principle of state sovereignty.

• Balance of Power: A system of political alliances and rivalries aimed at preventing any one European power from becoming too dominant.

• The Glorious Revolution: Overthrow of King James II of England, leading to a constitutional monarchy.

• Catherine the Great: Empress of Russia known for her reforms and expansionist policies.

• Pugachev's Rebellion: A major peasant uprising against Catherine the Great's rule.

• Putting Out System: A pre-industrial system of manufacturing where tasks were subcontracted to rural workers.

The Integration of the Americas and Oceania with the Wider World

• Mestizo: People of mixed European and Indigenous American ancestry.

• Conquistadores -> Spanish Crown: Spanish conquerors who established control over vast territories and resources in the Americas, becoming part of the Spanish empire.

• Audiencias: Royal courts of law in Spanish America, representing the authority of the Spanish crown.

• Differences between Iberian and English/French conquest of the Americas: Different approaches and methods of colonization and expansion between Spain/Portugal and Great Britain/France.

• Economies: Economic activities in the Americas, including trade, mining, agriculture and labor systems.

• Relations with Native Americans: Interactions and conflicts between European colonizers and indigenous populations.

• Labor: Forms of labor, including indentured servitude, slavery and forced labor in the Americas.

• Cash Crops: Agricultural products grown primarily for export.

• Australian penal colony: Establishment of Australia as a penal colony for convicts from Britain.

Africa and the Atlantic World

• Christianity in West Africa, King Alfonso: Spread of Christianity in West Africa during this period through missionaries and explorers, King Alfonso played a role.

• Queen Nzinga, Angola: Powerful African queen who resisted Portuguese colonization.

• Islam in West Africa: Spread of Islam in West Africa via trade and religious conversion.

• The Fulani: A West African ethnic group known for their religious and military activities.

• Continuation of kinship groups: The maintained importance of kinship structures in African societies.

• Manioc: A staple crop in West Africa.

• Slavery in Africa: Existing forms of slavery in various parts of Africa prior to and during the Atlantic slave trade.

• Effect of Europeans: Impact of European interaction on African societies and economies, often negative but not universally.

• Triangular Trade (source/destination): Trade network involving the transport of goods, people, and materials between Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

• Experience of enslaved Africans: The harsh realities of the slave trade and life for enslaved Africans in the Americas, conditions varied by location and owner.

Tradition and Change in East Asia

• China:
  • Ming emphasize Chinese culture to stabilize society: The Ming Dynasty's policies were focused on upholding and promoting Chinese traditions to stabilize the population
  • Yongle moves capital to Beijing: The Ming dynasty's capital was relocated to Beijing under Emperor Yongle.
  • Zheng He - voyages: Zheng He's massive maritime expeditions were a major part of China's global engagement.
  • Wanli weakens Ming legitimacy: The rule of the Wanli Emperor was marked by a decline in legitimacy of the Ming.
  • Nurhaci unites Manchu Nomads: The unification of different Manchu groups by Nurhaci was ultimately crucial.
  • Kangxi, poet emperor: Emperors like Kangxi were known for their promotion of the arts and their role in maintaining order.
  • Son of Heaven: The Confucian concept of the emperor's divine authority.
  • Continuation of patriarchy: Strong patriarchal social structures persisted in China.
  • Foot Binding: The practice of binding women's feet within China.
  • Technological stagnation of Ming and Qing due to policies favoring stability: The Ming and Qing Dynasties had policies that prioritized stability and tradition, which sometimes limited technological advancement.
  • Zhu Xi - most important Neo-Confucian: Zhu Xi was a key figure in the development of Neo-Confucian philosophy.
  • Christianity not readily adopted by Chinese populations due to the exclusive nature of the religion: The nature of the Christian religion proved challenging, often not as compatible with existing beliefs .
• Japan:
  • Tokugawan bakufu or “tent government” meant to be temporary: While temporary in intention, the Tokugawa Shogunate became a permanent system.
  • Tokugawa Ieyasu unified Japan: The Shogunate unification under the Tokugawa.
  • Shogun > Daimyo > Samurai (Japanese feudalism): Structure of Japanese hierarchy during this period.
  • Japanese policy of isolation: Japan’s deliberate policy of limiting contact with other nations.
  • Population control policies “thinning out the rice shoots.”: Population control policies in Japan.
  • Tokugawa tries to limit power of Daimyo and Samurai: push from warrior to bureaucrat: Tokugawa aimed for a less militant society, promoting and changing the role of warriors.
  • Japanese emphasize their own culture: “native learning”: The prioritization of Japanese culture.
  • Floating worlds: entertainment and pleasure districts of cities like Osaka: Osaka and other cities had entertainment and leisure areas.
  • Japanese literature: The Life of a Man Who Lived for Love - Ihara Saikaku: A notable work of Japanese literature.

Empires of South and Southwest Asia

• Turkic origins of the South West and South Asian Empires: Most empires were associated with Turkic background.

• Ghazi: Turkic title for a Muslim religious warrior.

• Stepp policies: Policies related to succession and gender rights among steppe-nomadic groups and the empires that emerged from them.

• Jizya: Head tax on non-Muslims.

• Ottoman:

  • Osman Bey: Founder of the Ottoman Empire.
  • Devshirme: A system where talented youths from conquered territories were recruited, educated, and trained to serve the empire.
  • Mehmed II “The Conqueror”: Known for capturing Constantinople.
  • Hagia Sofia -> Aya Sofya: Hagia Sophia became a mosque in the Ottoman Empire.
  • Suleyman the Magnificent: One of the Ottoman Empire’s most prominent rulers.
  • Suleymaniye: A famous mosque built by Suleyman.
  • Harem Sultana: A complex of women that played a significant role in the empire.
  • Murad IV – religious fundamentalism/moralism: Murad IV was known for his strict adherence to Islamic principles.

• Safavid:

  • Twelver Shiism: The dominant Shia branch of Islam in the Safavid Empire
  • Shah Ismail: One of their important rulers.
  • Battle of Chaldiran: A crucial battle between the Safavids and the Ottomans.

• Mughal:

  • Zahir al-Din Muhammad (descendant of Ghengis Khan?): One of their significant predecessors
  • Akbar and religious tolerance: Akbar was known for his efforts at religious tolerance.
  • Shah Jahan + Taj Mahal: Shah Jahan commissioned the Taj Mahal, a famous monument.
  • Aurangzeb religious intolerance + Taj Mahal: Aurangzeb was known for opposing religious tolerance.
  • Population growth 105 million in 1500 to 190 million in 1800: Represents a significant population increase in these empires in a relatively short span.
  • Goa trading hub and center for Christianity in India: Goa played a prominent role as a trading hub and center for Christianity in India.
  • Empire: Concepts of empire and their characteristics.
  • Dhimmi - protected classes of non-muslims: Protected classes of non-muslims in the Islamic empires.
  • Reasons for decline and collapse: Factors that contributed to the decline and fall of these empires.

Explore the critical events and connections that shaped the modern world in this quiz. From the Manila Galleons and James Cook's explorations to the Reformation and the Thirty Years' War, deepen your understanding of how trade and conflict influenced global dynamics. Test your knowledge of key historical transformations and their impacts on Europe and beyond.