Discussion Notes Flashcards
Why do the authors argue that it is useful to think of Europe, Asia, and Africa as a single ‘Afro-Eurasian supercontinent’?
It highlights the extensive trade networks, cultural exchanges, and interconnectedness among these regions.
How do the authors define the term state?
The organized exercise of power over a specific territory and the people who live in it.
What is the definition of sovereignty?
The claim to exercise power and authority over a territory and its people.
What does legitimacy refer to in the context of governance?
The justification for a ruler’s authority, which can be based on various factors.
What type of state is described as an empire?
A type of state that seeks to expand its control over diverse territories and peoples.
How does the concern for SSLE apply to the rise of the Ottoman Turks?
They established a powerful state that claimed sovereignty and integrated diverse populations.
What was the ‘biological old regime’?
A historical period characterized by limited technological advancements and stable population growth.
What were the ‘great disruptions of the fourteenth century’?
The Black Death and social, economic, and political upheaval.
Why did the first Spanish arrivals covet possessing an encomienda?
It granted them the right to extract labor and tribute from indigenous populations.
How did the Aztec Empire become powerful?
Through military conquest, strategic alliances, and a tribute system.
How did the Spanish approach to the New World change by the early 1500s?
It shifted from exploration and trade to conquest and colonization.
What major revisions do the authors highlight regarding the Spanish Conquest?
The role of indigenous allies, the impact of disease, and the complexity of social structures.
What was the purpose of the 1494 Treaty of Tordesillas?
To divide newly discovered lands between Spain and Portugal and prevent conflict.
How did the Philippines become a Spanish, Catholic colony?
Through the efforts of Spanish explorers and missionaries who established settlements.
What opportunities and limits did Europeans confront in their dealings with Asian powers?
Opportunities included access to trade markets; limits included strong centralized authorities.
Who was Niccolò Machiavelli?
An Italian diplomat and philosopher known for his work ‘The Prince.’
What was Machiavelli’s major contribution to political life?
A pragmatic approach to politics emphasizing power and statecraft.
What was controversial about Machiavelli’s work?
It challenged religious and ethical frameworks in governance.
How was the Muslim world divided during the early-modern period?
Due to sectarian differences and rivalries among Islamic states.
From what sovereign entity did the Netherlands become independent?
The Spanish Empire.
What prompted the resistance that led to the Netherlands’ independence?
The oppressive rule of King Philip II of Spain.
What was Thomas Hobbes’s major contribution to political theory?
His argument for a strong centralized authority in ‘Leviathan.’
How did Hobbes’s ideas challenge traditional notions of governance?
He suggested legitimacy was based on social contract rather than divine right.
How does the Chinese idea of the Mandate of Heaven differ from the European concept of divine right?
Tianming is conditional on a ruler’s ability to govern justly.
What is inductive reasoning?
Drawing general conclusions from specific observations.
How did inductive reasoning shape the early modern world?
It influenced scientific inquiry and challenged traditional beliefs.
How important was agricultural production in the 1600s?
It was crucial as the backbone of economies and influenced power relations.
Where else besides Europe were varieties of mercantilism practiced?
In Asia, particularly in the Mughal and Ottoman Empires.
Why were manufactured trade items like Indian cotton cloth so sought after?
Due to their quality, vibrant colors, and association with luxury.
What effects did American silver have on the global economy?
Increased liquidity and facilitated trade, becoming a primary currency.
What prompted the tax revolt in the Ottoman Empire in the late 1500s?
Increased tax demands following costly military campaigns.
What was ‘Tulipmania’?
A speculative frenzy in the Netherlands during the 1630s involving tulip bulbs.
Who were maroons and why were they important in the Atlantic world?
Communities of escaped enslaved people representing resistance against colonial powers.
Who were maroons, also known as palenques or macombos?
Communities formed by escaped enslaved people in the Americas, particularly in Brazil and the Caribbean.
Why were maroon societies important in the Atlantic world?
They represented resistance against colonial powers and the institution of slavery.
What was John Locke’s major contribution to political thought?
The assertion that government should be based on the consent of the governed and that individuals have rights to life, liberty, and property.
What significant document was influenced by John Locke’s ideas?
The English Bill of Rights (1689).
What sparked King Philip’s War (1675-1678)?
Tensions between English settlers and Native American tribes over land encroachment and cultural misunderstandings.
What was the significance of King Philip’s War?
It was one of the deadliest conflicts in American history, leading to a substantial loss of life and territory for Native Americans.
What were the elements of the New Imperial System imposed by Britain after the Seven Years’ War?
New taxes, curtailment of untaxed merchandise, focus on trade with Great Britain, permanent stationing of imperial troops, and prohibition of westward colonial expansion.
What were the explicit goals of the Chinese imperial court during Zheng He’s voyages?
- Expansion of Trade and Diplomacy
- Cultural Exchange
What additional intentions can be inferred from Zheng He’s voyages?
- Demonstration of Power
- Control Over Maritime Trade Routes
How were the Chinese received in Cochin during their voyages?
They were welcomed and celebrated, indicating a positive reception.
What was the reception of the Chinese in Sri Lanka?
They faced hostility from the local king, leading to conflict.
What were the goals of the treaty of Novgorod?
- Establishing Trade Relations
- Legal Protections
What concerns were negotiators addressing in the treaty of Novgorod?
- Security of Trade
- Economic Stability
What is the Spanish crown asking the indigenous people of the Americas to do?
To recognize the authority of the Spanish monarchy and the Roman Catholic Church.
What does sovereignty mean in the context of the Spanish Requirement of 1513?
It is presented as a divine right granted by God.
What internal divisions within the Aztec Empire are revealed in indigenous accounts?
Fear and distrust among various indigenous groups.
What motivated the rules put forth in the Sakoku Edict of 1635?
Concerns about maintaining national security and cultural integrity.
How does the Sakoku Edict of 1635 restrict Japan’s foreign interactions?
It allows only limited trade with the Dutch and Chinese while prohibiting Japanese citizens from traveling abroad.
What advice does Afonso of Congo give to the King of Portugal?
To take action against the excessive freedom given to Portuguese merchants.
What are the similarities between Afonso of Congo and José de Acosta’s critiques?
Both express concern for the well-being of their people and the moral implications of the slave trade.
What does José de Acosta argue regarding the slave trade?
He critiques the injustices and moral implications of enslaving individuals under false pretenses.
What key information does Acosta provide about the silver mining economy?
The silver mining economy in Potosi was immensely profitable with significant quantities extracted.
How does Acosta describe cause-effect relationships in the silver mining economy?
He attributes wealth generation to divine providence.
What is Bernier’s assessment of the economy of South Asia?
It is rich and diverse but vulnerable to external economic pressures.
What implications does Bernier’s assessment have for mercantilist policies?
It reinforces the importance of maintaining a favorable balance of trade and protecting domestic industries.
What economic policies did Colbert advocate for?
Maintaining a favorable balance of trade and protecting domestic industries
Colbert’s mercantilist policies aimed to accumulate wealth through exports and limit imports.
What is the purpose of a social contract according to John Locke?
To protect individuals’ natural rights, particularly their rights to life, liberty, and property
Locke argues that individuals relinquish some freedoms in exchange for protection of their remaining rights.
What challenges to political order arise from Locke’s ideas?
Government overreach and abuse of power
Locke states that failure to protect citizens’ rights can lead to loss of trust and the right of the people to revolt.
What type of state was Peter the Great trying to build?
A modern, centralized state capable of competing with Western European powers
Peter aimed to enhance Russia’s military capabilities, particularly its naval power.
What was a significant consequence of the Ming Dynasty’s trade policy?
Ceding commercial and political power in the Indian Ocean to smaller European rivals
The Ming Dynasty focused on agriculture rather than foreign trade, limiting its engagement with the wider world.
What marked the beginning of significant interactions between Japan and European powers?
The arrival of the Portuguese in 1543
This event initiated the Nanban trade period and subsequent cultural exchanges.
What was the Sakoku Edict?
A ban on nearly all foreign contact enacted by Tokugawa Ieyasu’s successor in 1633
This marked the beginning of Japan’s isolationist policy lasting over two centuries.
Who initiated the Protestant Reformation, and what was its main focus?
Martin Luther; challenging the Catholic Church’s practices, particularly the sale of indulgences
Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses emphasized salvation through faith.
What were the Wars of Religion in France?
Conflicts between Catholics and Calvinist Protestants from 1568 to 1598
These wars included widespread violence, notably the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre in 1572.
What is the significance of Jean-Baptiste Colbert’s economic policies?
He adopted mercantilist policies to protect domestic industries and expand colonies
These policies were codified in the Code Noir of 1685.
What was the impact of the Seven Years’ War on imperial competition?
It significantly altered the balance of power in North America and India
The war resulted in the decline of French influence and the rise of British dominance.
What is the Great Peace of Montreal known for?
Representing a significant moment of Indigenous agency and diplomacy
It illustrates the complex interplay of Indigenous and European interests in North America.
What did the Enlightenment emphasize?
Reason, empirical inquiry, and individual rights
These ideas challenged traditional authorities and inspired significant revolutions.
Fill in the blank: The voyages of Zheng He served primarily _______.
[diplomatic missions]
These missions aimed at forging relationships and asserting the Ming Emperor’s prestige.
True or False: The Ming Dynasty actively encouraged foreign trade during Zheng He’s voyages.
False
The Ming Dynasty emphasized a domestic economy focused on agriculture.
What did Peter the Great’s reforms aim to emulate?
Advancements in military organization and naval power in Western Europe
He observed successes in countries like England and the Netherlands.
What was a key theme of the Nanban trade period?
Cultural exchanges between Japan and Portugal
This included the introduction of new goods, technologies, and ideas.
Who was Desiderius Erasmus, and what was his contribution?
A Dutch humanist whose writings criticized the Catholic Church
He is often quoted as having ‘laid the egg that Luther hatched.’
What was the primary focus of mercantilist theory?
State control over the economy and maintaining a positive balance of trade
It emphasizes the importance of colonies for resource acquisition.
What significant event occurred in 1660s France under Colbert’s influence?
The adoption of mercantilist policies
This included tariffs to protect domestic industries and expansion of colonies.
What did the Enlightenment inspire in terms of revolutions?
Significant revolutions, including the American and French Revolutions
It led to the establishment of democratic principles.
What long-term effects did the peace established in 1701 have on Indigenous-European relations?
It had lasting effects, particularly as British colonial policies evolved after the Seven Years’ War.
What does the Enlightenment emphasize?
Reason, empirical inquiry, and individual rights.
What significant revolutions were inspired by Enlightenment ideas?
- American Revolution
- French Revolution
What advocacy emerged during the Enlightenment period?
Voices advocating for women’s rights and social reforms.
What is the significance of Adam Smith’s ‘The Wealth of Nations’?
‘The Wealth of Nations’ transforms economic thought, challenging mercantilism and laying the groundwork for modern economics.
Who was Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz and what was his contribution?
A key figure in continental rationalism who applied reason as the source of knowledge.
What did Mary Wollstonecraft argue in ‘Vindication of the Rights of Women’?
She argued for women’s rights and education, challenging patriarchal systems.
What was the outcome of the American Revolution?
The establishment of a republic and the assertion of individual rights.
What significant event began the French Revolution in 1789?
The end of the Ancien Régime and the establishment of democratic principles.
What does the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen assert?
It asserts individual rights and democratic principles.
What was the significance of the War of Spanish Succession?
It highlighted the delicate balance of power in Europe and led to further conflicts.
What did the War of Austrian Succession escalate?
Tensions between European powers, particularly between Austria and Prussia.
What event marked the beginning of hostilities in North America?
English colonists, led by George Washington, attacked French Fort Duquesne.
When did the Seven Years’ War officially start?
1756.
What was the significance of the Battle of Quebec?
It was a decisive British victory that led to the fall of French Canada.
What happened in 1763 after the conclusion of the Seven Years’ War?
The Treaty of Paris resulted in significant territorial changes, expanding British imperial power.
What was the Great Peace of Montreal?
A treaty establishing peaceful relations between the French and approximately 39 Indigenous nations.
What were the terms of the Great Peace established in 1701?
- Trading privileges for the Haudenosaunee
- French commitments to provide goods
- Recognition of the Governor of New France as an arbiter of disputes
What was the outcome of the British victory in the Seven Years’ War?
The end of French colonial rule in North America.
What did the Royal Proclamation of 1763 establish?
A framework for relations with Indigenous nations.
What was the significance of the Thirty Years’ War?
It set the stage for future imperial competition in Europe.
What were traditional rivalries and alliances in the 1600s?
Indigenous nations engaged in trade and warfare, setting the stage for future conflicts with European powers.
What were the consequences of the Haudenosaunee Wars?
Significant population declines among Indigenous nations due to warfare and European diseases.
What occurred in 1663 regarding New France?
The French Crown took direct control of New France.
What did the Treaty of Augsburg establish in 1555?
Legal representation to different sects of Christianity within the Holy Roman Empire.
What was the German Peasants’ War of 1525?
An uprising during which Luther’s response was harsh, reflecting his conservative stance.
What significant act did Luther perform on October 31, 1517?
He nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg.
