Chapter 16 Flashcards
Identify and explain the significance of bride wealth
In Southeast Asia when women married (typically at the age of 20) the groom would pay the bride and this money stayed under her control. This contrast that of China, India and Europe where a dowry was typically paid to the groom. This is a result of women having a lower status whereas in Southeast Asia, women had a higher status because of their primary role in planting and harvesting rice which gave them more authority and political power.
Identify and explain the significance of caravel
Previously, Medieval European seagoing vessels consisted of open galleys propelled by oars or single-masted sailing ships. Though adequate for short journeys that hugged the shoreline, such vessels were incapable of long-distance
journeys or high-volume trade.
In the fifteenth century the Portuguese developed
the caravel, a three-masted sailing ship. Its multiple sails and sternpost rudder made the caravel a more manoeuvrable vessel that required fewer crewmen to operate. It
could carry more cargo than a galley, which meant it could sail farther without stopping for supplies and return with a larger cache of profitable goods. When fitted with
cannon, it could dominate larger vessels and bombard port cities.
Identify and explain the significance of Ptolemy’s Geography
This period also saw great strides in cartography and navigational aids. In 1410 a Latin translation reintroduced western Europeans to Ptolemy’s Geography.
Written in the second century, the work synthesized the geographical knowledge of the classical world. It represented a major improvement over medieval cartography by depicting the world as round and introducing latitude and longitude markings, but it also contained significant errors. Unaware of the Americas, Ptolemy showed the world as much smaller than it is, so that Asia appeared not very far to the west of Europe.
Identify and explain the significance of viceroyalties (p. 398)
Spanish territories were initially divided into to two viceroyalties. New Spain created in 1535 and Peru created in 1542. In the 18th century two more viceroyalities New Granda and La Plata were created. In each the viceroy (imperial govenor) exercised broad military and civil authority. They precided over the audiencia, a board of judges that served as his advisory council and the highest judicairy body. Reinforced social hierachy.
Identify and explain the significance of Treaty of Tordesillas (p. 394)
To settle competing claims to the Atlantic discoveries, Spain and Portugal turned to Pope Alexander VI. The resulting Treaty of Tordesillas 1494 gave Spain everything to the west of an imaginary line drawn down the Atlantic and Portugal everything to the east.
This is significant as it meant Spanish profits from Hispaniola and other Caribbean islands were insignificant compared to Portugal’s enormous riches from the Asian spice trade meaning Spain renewed the search for a western passage to Asia.
Thus, in 1519, Charles I of Spain commissioned Ferdinand Magellan to find a direct sea route to Asia. The ship returned home in 1522 with only 18 men on board not including Magellan due to terrible conditions but it was the first voyage to circumnavigate the globe. This demonstrated that the earth was much larger the Ptolemy’s map had shown and also that Spain had to rethink their plans for oversea commerce and territorial expansion as that route was too long and dangerous for commercial purposes. Hence
Spain soon abandoned the attempt to oust Portugal from the Eastern spice trade and concentrated on exploiting its New World territories.
Identify and explain the significance of Conquistador (p. 395)
Spanish for conqueror, Hernan Cortes, was a soldier-explorer who sought to conquer the new world for the spanish crown. Spanish governor in Cuba sponsored expeditions to the Yucatan coast of the Gulf of Mexico, including one in 1519 under the command Cortes. The govenor withdrew support as he was alarmed by Cortes ambiton but he set sail before he was removed from command. Cortés and his party landed on the Mexican coast on April 21, 1519. His camp soon received visits by delegations of Aztec leaders bearing gifts and news of their great emperor.
Identify and explain the significance of Aztec Empire (p. 395)
An alliance between the Mexica people and their conquered allies had risen in size and power during the 15th C. When the Spanish arrived they were ruled by Moctezuma II from his capital Tenochtitlan, now mexico city. They had a sophisticated society with advance maths, astronomy, and engeneering. A heiraditary nobility dominated the army, priesthood, state beuracracy and reaped the gains from the agricultural labour of common people. Through translators, Cortres learned of local resentment against the Aztec empire and forged an alliance with Tlaxcala a subject kngdom of the Aztecs who had paid tribute through local cheifs, forced to work land and captured for religous sacrafise through brutal warfare. The Spanish won victory in 1521 after Cholula then marching Tenochtitland where Moctezuma was killed.
Identify and explain the significance of Inca Empire (p. 397)
In Peru, the Incas were isolated from mesoamerican civilisation of the Aztecs. Their polity rivaled that of Europed. They had bureaucratic efficiency. Ruled from the capital Cuzco, the empire was divided into four regions which were divided into provinances and each of those divided into districts. Officials at each level used the extensive network of roads to transmit information and orders. While the Aztecs used a system of glyphs for writing, the Incas had devised a complex system of colored and knotted cords, called khipus, for administrative bookkeeping. Weakened by civil war and an epidemic of smallpox Francisco Pizarro was able to win control of the empire. He landed the day Atahualpa was corronated and ambushed him when he wanted to greet them.
Identify and explain the significance of captaincies (p. 398)
Identify and explain the significance of encomienda system (p. 399)
Identify and explain the significance of Columbian exchange (p. 401)
Identify and explain the significance of Valladolid debate (p. 407)
Identify and explain the significance of Black Legend (p. 407)
What was the Afroeurasian trade world prior to the era of European exploration? (p. 385)
How and why did Europeans undertake ambitious voyages of expansion? (p. 389)
