Religions and Voyages of Discovery: Major Faiths and European Exploration - Prof. Michael , Exams of World History

Download Religions and Voyages of Discovery: Major Faiths and European Exploration - Prof. Michael and more Exams World History in PDF only on Docsity! History In-term Exam #1 Major Religions of World, beliefs & similarities Christianity: Western and Central Europeans were Roman Catholic. Eastern Europeans Orthodox Share common customs: monogamy, tight fitting clothes, eating foods on spherical plates, marry late in life Islam: Middle Eastern society. Believe there was only one God Allah, and Muhammad was his prophet. Way of life based on the Quran, based on holy law Shari’a that governed marriage, art, business practices, criminal law, dietary habits Hindus: South Asians share a belief in reincarnation, and the concept of karma, Vedas (ancient religious texts), adhere to rules of Caste System Confucianism: East Asians. Ethical and social philosophy Commonalities: universal spiritual power, universal moral code, promises of salvation and eternal afterlife, religious based community, and cooperation. Voyages of Discovery European voyages of discovery – extension of long distrance trading and communication networks. More than just trade routes, people and their customs, beliefs and practices traveled along with them too. Brought with them microorganisms: Black Plague. Discovered new world. Spanish conquests – conquered Aztec empire in Mexico, conquered Incas in Peru. Missionaries converted most of the Native Americans to Roman Catholicism Non-western technologies influence European navigation Strongly built hulls, rudders = sturdier and more maneuverable ships Compass, astrolabe, accurate charts Columbian Exchange When Columbus arrived in the Americas he initiated an exchange of people, cultures, plants, animals, and microbes between the Eastern and Western hemispheres. Native American societies collapsed. Old world infections and contagious diseases were introduced to the Americas (Smallpox). Old world crops: wheat rice apples and oranges were cultivated in the Americas. New world crops: maize potatoes beans tomatoes were cultivated in Europe, Africa, and Asia. Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Europeans acquired slaves in Africa and transported them to work on plantations in the Americas. Began with the Portuguese in the 15th century. The old world diseases that killed off natives created labor shortages that African slaves could fill. Africans were less likely to run away because they were unfamiliar with the land. In early 16th century about 2,000 slaves were transported across the Atlantic every year. It reached its peak of 80,000 – 100,000 slaves per year in the late 18th century. 2/3 of the slaves were male. Was not enough to cause a drop in the African population.. Sugar plantations were where most of the slaves were going. Trading Post Empires Portuguese pioneered trading post efforts. Started in West Africa and dominated Indian Ocean. Portuguese dominance in Indian Ocean came to end in 1600 with the arrival of Dutch. They created the Dutch East India company (merchants pooled resources to establish fleet of trading vessels and sponsor long distance trading ships). Opened posts on the coasts of Africa and Asia. Involved in silver trade in Japan. Japan gave the Dutch exclusive right to trade. Most profitable for the Dutch was Indonesia (sought after spices). Dutch competed with the English East India Company who were active in India. Spanish Colonial empire in Americas Columbus conquered Hispaniola beginning the Spanish conquest in Americas. Cortes conquered Aztec empire in Mexico. Pizzaro conquered Inca Empire in Peru. Spanish missionaries converted most of Native Americans to Roman Catholicism. Latin America had a hierarchical social structure: Peninsulares (Spanish who come from home country) are on top, Criollos (pure Iberian blood but born in Americas- formed elite), Spanish settlers who established haciendas (plantations worked by peasants). Majority of population was poor farmers. Mestizos (mixed Spanish or Portuguese and Native American) North American colonies – temperate climate was more attractive and healthier for European settlement. No silver/gold or any great states to conquer. Did not bring as much wealth as Latin America Modern State System Stronger states absorbed smaller or weaker ones until a region was dominated by one empire. Framework of rules within these states conducted trade, diplomacy, made alliances and carried out war. Origins in the efforts of monarchs to consolidate power. International law – established rules of conduct between states (Hugo Grotius). Hugo believed international law should be based on natural law- high seas were free from any states rule. Became international system – principles of international law, state sovereignty, rules of diplomatic conduct between states, and acceptance of a world of multiple states respecting each other. Balance of power – if any one state threatened to dominate Europe, other nations would ally against it. Major States of Europe Spain was greatest power in Europe in the 16th century. Charles II/Philip II. Spain lacked vibrant middle class or well developed manufacturers. Corruption and inefficiency of overseas empire reduced the wealth it produced, state went into decline in 17th century. France became wealthiest and most powerful state in Europe. Louis XIV reduced power of nobles and more power concentrated in monarch. Paris became cultural capital of Europe. England – Henry VIII. Geography gave it natural and stable boundaries and protection against attack by other states. Russia – Ivan the Great. Major States of Asia and Middle East Ottoman Empire – most powerful state in Middle East. Brought Byzantine empire to an end, renamed Istanbul and became one of the worlds great cities and center of Islamic culture. Sultans inherited their throne. Each sultan was an absolute ruler and claimed to be caliph (successor to Muhammad). Devshirme – children recruited from non-Muslim population converted to Islam trained as soldiers or civilian officials who administered and defended the state. Mughal Empire – second largest and second wealthiest state in the world Qing dynasty – military vigorous rulers. Administration of country done by shenshi – scholarbeaurcrats who acquired positions by passing highly competitive civil service exams. Tests based on Confucianism. Korea – yangban – civil service exams only open to these hereditary aristocracy Japan – bushi – hereditary class of warrior aristocrats. Daimyo – regional warlords Sunni Ottoman empire Shi’ite Persia Confucianist Chinese Korea Buddhist Thailand Rise of Modern Science New ways of thinking about and examining the natural world. Voyages of Europeans stimulated interest in geography and nature as new plants, animals, and people were being encountered. Copernicus – sun was center of universe and earth and other planets orbited around it. Kepler – planets traveled in elliptical orbits Galileo – made telescope, found countless stars, phases of Venus, moons of Jupiter, craters on the moon. Earth was one of at least six planets orbiting sun. Two objects of different weights would fall at the same rate of acceleration. Conducted controlled experiments to test hypothesis Bacon – created scientific method. Knowledge by induction. Leeuwenhoek – discovered bacteria with microscope Boyle – created vacuum Newton – physical laws of motion, law of gravity Industrial Revolution Originated in Great Britain in the 18th century. Increase in productivity and production of goods. Advancements in farming and agriculture – crop rotation, livestock breeding (average amount of meat on a sheep/hog increased 50%). New energy source of coal - leading to global dependency on fossil fuels. Iron became essential material. Key development was steam engine – useful in operating pumps,, powering ships and railroads. Virtuous cycle – one improvement helped another. Ex: steam engine easier to pump water out of coal mines, circulate air in, and haul coal out. Led to factory system – first mechanized industry was textile. Spinning jenny produced yarn in great numbers. Power loom made weaving faster with less labor (revolutionized cotton industry). Modern mechanized production continually reduced costs of products. Enlightenment