Final - October 29 - America, Africa and Asia before 1492 Flashcards
Common Geographical Knowledge before the age of discoveries
No educated European believed the world was flat in 1492 - The Earth was known to be a sphere since Classical Greece (but there were disagreements on its size) -The Ocean between Europe and Asia was thought to be largely empty and uncrossable for the ships of the time- Life at the planet’s equator thought to be impossible due to the sun’s heat (torrid zone)
what were the Notions of Space before the age of discoveries
Space was not simply a physical reality - Physical Space and Religious Space intersected – Jerusalem was considered to be the spiritual center of the world – Biblical places (such as the Earthly Paradise) were considered to exist somewhere
what were the Technical skills before the age of discoveries
By the end of the Middle Ages, European geographers were able to create competent maritime charts known as ”portolanos”, but lacked adequate “projection” methods to represent large masses of land
what were the Winds before the age of discoveries
The main limitation to the exploration of the Atlantic was the scarce knowledge of the “return” winds that allowed to go back to Europe – The discovery of the wind circulation in the Atlantic was key for the Age of the discoveries
what was Commerce before the age of discoveries
The exploration of the Atlantic was linked to commerce and the need to reestablish a direct connection with China and the Far East – the land route was closed after the Fall of Constantinople
explain Gold, Silver, and the European economy before the age of discoveries
Commercial expansion in the 15th Century, a trade deficit with Asia, and the shift from paper money to coins in the early period of the Ming Dynasty meant that the demand for precious metals in Europe skyrocketed – Spanish and Portuguese ”obsession” with gold and silver needs to be placed in this context
give a summary of the slide “Geographic and Economic considerations before the Age of Discoveries”
Common Geographical Knowledge: No educated European believed the world was flat in 1492 - The Earth was known to be a sphere since Classical Greece (but there were disagreements on its size) -The Ocean between Europe and Asia was thought to be largely empty and uncrossable for the ships of the time- Life at the planet’s equator thought to be impossible due to the sun’s heat (torrid zone)
Notions of Space: Space was not simply a physical reality - Physical Space and Religious Space intersected – Jerusalem was considered to be the spiritual center of the world – Biblical places (such as the Earthly Paradise) were considered to exist somewhere
Technical skills: By the end of the Middle Ages, European geographers were able to create competent maritime charts known as ”portolanos”, but lacked adequate “projection” methods to represent large masses of land
Winds: The main limitation to the exploration of the Atlantic was the scarce knowledge of the “return” winds that allowed to go back to Europe – The discovery of the wind circulation in the Atlantic was key for the Age of the discoveries
Commerce: The exploration of the Atlantic was linked to commerce and the need to reestablish a direct connection with China and the Far East – the land route was closed after the Fall of Constantinople
Gold, Silver, and the European economy: Commercial expansion in the 15th Century, a trade deficit with Asia, and the shift from paper money to coins in the early period of the Ming Dynasty meant that the demand for precious metals in Europe skyrocketed – Spanish and Portuguese ”obsession” with gold and silver needs to be placed in this context
explain Geographical Knowledge in the West before 1500: Africa (full slide)
Northern Africa and the Middle East are well-known to the European since classical times
However, the Muslim conquest made difficult to have access to those societies –
Central Africa and South Africa as well as Madagascar are basically unknown to the Europeans until the Portuguese voyages of the 15th Century
Although there are news of Christian kingdoms such as the one in Ethiopia
Importance of Gold (story of Mansa Musa, emperor of Mali, 1280-1337)
Existence of complex societies - Empire of Benin at its height at the time of the Portuguese Expansion
Pre-modern slave routes in Africa played a role in the development of Atlantic slavery
Northern Africa and the Middle East are well-known to the European since when
classical times
Northern Africa and the Middle East are well-known to the European since classical times
However, the Muslim conquest made difficult to what
have access to those societies –
Northern Africa and the Middle East are well-known to the European since classical times
However, the Muslim conquest made difficult to have access to those societies –
why
Central Africa and South Africa as well as Madagascar are basically unknown to the Europeans until the Portuguese voyages of the 15th Century
Although there are news of Christian kingdoms such as the one in Ethiopia
Importance of Gold (story of Mansa Musa, emperor of Mali, 1280-1337
Existence of complex societies - Empire of Benin at its height when
at the time of the Portuguese Expansion
Pre-modern slave routes in Africa played a role in the development of what
development of Atlantic slavery
explain Importance of Gold (story of Mansa Musa)
Mansa Musa, fourteenth century emperor of the Mali Empire, is the medieval African ruler most known to the world outside Africa. His elaborate pilgrimage to the Muslim holy city of Mecca in 1324 introduced him to rulers in the Middle East and in Europe
Geographical knowledge in the West before 1500: ASIA (full slide)
Relatively known to Europeans before 1492
Classical travel narratives go back to Alexander the Great
Attempts at establishing diplomatic and commercial relations with China since the Middle Ages
Belief in the existence of powerful Christian Kings in the East – especially in India and later in Africa (legend of Prester John)
Marco Polo’s voyages (late 13th/early 14th Century) are highly influential
The Ming Dynasty rules China – Although a powerful navy is developed in the early 15th Century, it was considered an unnecessary expense and dismantled by 1433
Japan finds itself in the Sengoku period or “Age of Warring States”; c. 1467 – c. 1600) - a period in Japanese history marked by social upheaval, political intrigue and near-constant military conflict
For two and a half centuries from the mid 13th century, politics in Northern India was dominated by the Delhi Sultanate, and in Southern India by the Vijayanagar Empire.- The early modern period of Indian history is dated from 1526 CE to 1858 CE, corresponding to the rise and fall of the Mughal Empire, during which India’s economy expanded, relative peace was maintained and arts were patronized
Knowledge of India, South East Asia, Malasya and Japan mostly fictional/mythical
was asia known to eropeans
Relatively known to Europeans before 1492
Classical travel narratives (of asia) go back to who
Alexander the Great
european Attempts at establishing diplomatic and commercial relations with China since when
the Middle Ages
Asia: belief in existence of what
Belief in the existence of powerful Christian Kings in the East – especially in India and later in Africa (legend of Prester John)
explain the legend of Prester John
Prester John a legendary medieval Christian king of Asia, said to have defeated the Muslims and to be destined to bring help to the Holy Land. The legend spread in Europe in the mid 12th century
why re Marco Polo’s voyages (late 13th/early 14th Century) are highly influential
columbus read them
who ruled china before 1500
The Ming Dynasty rules China – Although a powerful navy is developed in the early 15th Century, it was considered an unnecessary expense and dismantled by 1433
what was happening in Japan before 1500
Japan finds itself in the Sengoku period or “Age of Warring States”; c. 1467 – c. 1600) - a period in Japanese history marked by social upheaval, political intrigue and near-constant military conflict
what was happening in india before 1500
For two and a half centuries from the mid 13th century, politics in Northern India was dominated by the Delhi Sultanate, and in Southern India by the Vijayanagar Empire.- The early modern period of Indian history is dated from 1526 CE to 1858 CE, corresponding to the rise and fall of the Mughal Empire, during which India’s economy expanded, relative peace was maintained and arts were patronized
was the knowledge of asia accurate before 1500
Knowledge of India, South East Asia, Malasya and Japan mostly fictional/mythical
Pre-Columbian Americas: Some key points (full slide)
Human beings entered North America by walking across a land bridge from Asia more than twenty thousand years ago – There might have been other migration routes through the Pacific Ocean
There were different kinds of societies:
Concentrated sedentary/ Empires: permanently settled agricultural peoples organized into some kind of empire (Mexicas, Incas, Tarascas, Cakchiquel Mayas and QuichéMayas)
Segmented sedentary/ State Cities: Occupied lands where there were no empires or large polities (Muisca, Zapotecs and Mixtecs, some Mayas of Yucatán Peninsula and Guatemala)
Semisedentary: relied on both agricultural (mostly) and hunting. Sometimes they need to move to other areas for surviving and religious factors. Tainos (Antilles)
Non-sedentary or Nomads: (Tehuelche in Argentina)
The demography of Pre-Columbian America. New Evidence and Long Debates.
Pre-Columbian Americas: Some key points
Human beings entered North America how
by walking across a land bridge from Asia more than twenty thousand years ago – There might have been other migration routes through the Pacific Ocean
Pre-Columbian Americas: Some key points
There were different kinds of societies:
such as
Concentrated sedentary/ Empires
Segmented sedentary/ State Cities
Semisedentary
Non-sedentary or Nomads
explain the pre-columbian americas society of Concentrated sedentary/ Empires:
permanently settled agricultural peoples organized into some kind of empire (Mexicas, Incas, Tarascas, Cakchiquel Mayas and QuichéMayas)
explain the pre-columbian americas society of Segmented sedentary/ State Cities:
Occupied lands where there were no empires or large polities (Muisca, Zapotecs and Mixtecs, some Mayas of Yucatán Peninsula and Guatemala)
explain the pre-columbian americas society of Semisedentary:
relied on both agricultural (mostly) and hunting. Sometimes they need to move to other areas for surviving and religious factors. Tainos (Antilles)
explain the pre-columbian americas society of Non-sedentary or Nomads:
(Tehuelche in Argentina)
is the The demography of Pre-Columbian America solid
no, New Evidence and Long Debates.
Two Main Cultural Regions of Pre-Columbian America
Mesoamerica (just under mexico/mexico) and the Andes (south america)
Mesoamerican Civilization: The Mayas. Some Key Points (fun slide)
The earliest Maya settlements date to around 1800 B.C (Beginning of the Preclassic or Formative Period.)
The Late Preclassic city of Mirador, in the northern Peten, was one of the greatest cities ever built in the pre-Columbian Americas. The smallest Maya centers covered less than a square kilometer. Tikal, the largest, covered 123 square kilometers.
From the late eighth through the end of the ninth century, the Maya civilization collapsed. The Maya never disappeared really, according to recent studies around seven million direct descendants of the Mayans live in the Americas today.
According to scholars, the most distinctive Maya achievements were in abstract mathematics and astronomy.
The Maya were literate and had a written language and even “books.” The Mayan system of hieroglyphics, one of the most complex systems on Earth, only began to be successfully decoded in the 1950’s.
The Ancient Maya were incredible engineers, constructing incredible Pyramids and temples that match the ones in Egypt.
The Ancient Maya played sports. The Mesoamerican ballgame was a “sport” practiced byall the major civilizations from the Olmecs to the Aztecs. The objective of the ball gamewas to strike a rubber ball through the hoop using any part of the body except the hands.Mayas main crops were maize (corn), beans, squash, avocados, chili peppers, pineapples, papayas, and cacao.
Mesoamerican Civilization: The Mayas. Some Key Points
The earliest Maya settlements date to when
around 1800 B.C (Beginning of the Preclassic or Formative Period.)
Mesoamerican Civilization: The Mayas. Some Key Points
The Late Preclassic city of Mirador, in the northern Peten was what
was one of the greatest cities ever built in the pre-Columbian Americas. The smallest Maya centers covered less than a square kilometer. Tikal, the largest, covered 123 square kilometers
Mesoamerican Civilization: The Mayas. Some Key Points– From the late eighth through the end of the ninth century, what happened to the mayans
the Maya civilization collapsed. The Maya never disappeared really, according to recent studies around seven million direct descendants of the Mayans live in the Americas today.
Mesoamerican Civilization: The Mayas. Some Key Points According to scholars, the most distinctive Maya achievements were what
in abstract mathematics and astronomy.
Mesoamerican Civilization: The Mayas. Some Key Points– were the mayans literate or good at engineering
“The Maya were literate and had a written language and even books.” The Mayan system of hieroglyphics, one of the most complex systems on Earth, only began to be successfully decoded in the 1950’s.
The Ancient Maya were incredible engineers, constructing incredible Pyramids and temples that match the ones in Egypt
Mesoamerican Civilization: The Mayas. Some Key Points– did they play sports
The Ancient Maya played sports. The Mesoamerican ballgame was a “sport” practiced byall the major civilizations from the Olmecs to the Aztecs. The objective of the ball gamewas to strike a rubber ball through the hoop using any part of the body except the hands.Mayas main crops were maize (corn), beans, squash, avocados, chili peppers, pineapples, papayas, and cacao.
The Aztec empire: Some Key points (full slide)
Origins: The origin of the Aztec people is uncertain, but elements of their own tradition suggest that they were a tribe ofhunters and gathererson the northern Mexican plateau before their appearance in Mesoamerica
Capital: They settled on islands in Lake Texcoco and in 1325 founded Tenochtitlán, which remained their chief centre. Built a remarkable system ofagriculture, which featured intensive cultivation of all available land, as well as elaborate systems ofirrigationand reclamation ofswampland.
Politics: The Aztec state was a despotism in which the military arm played a dominant role. Valour in war was, in fact, the surest path to advancement in Aztec society, which was caste- and class-divided but nonetheless vertically fluid.
Religion: Aztec religion was syncretistic, absorbing elements from many other Mesoamericancultures. At base, it shared many of the cosmological beliefs of earlier peoples, notably theMayas. Prominent in the Aztec pantheon wereHuitzilopochtli, god of war;Tonatiuh, god of the sun;Tlaloc, god of rain; andQuetzalcóatl, the Feathered Serpent, who was part deity and partculturehero.
Sacrifices: Human sacrifice, particularly by offering a victim’sheart to Tonatiuh, was commonly practiced – This will become one of the ”justifications” for the Spanish intervention.
The Aztec empire origins
The origin of the Aztec people is uncertain, but elements of their own tradition suggest that they were a tribe ofhunters and gathererson the northern Mexican plateau before their appearance in Mesoamerica
The Aztec empire capital
Capital: They settled on islands in Lake Texcoco and in 1325 founded Tenochtitlán, which remained their chief centre. Built a remarkable system ofagriculture, which featured intensive cultivation of all available land, as well as elaborate systems ofirrigationand reclamation ofswampland.
The Aztec empire politics
Politics: The Aztec state was a despotism in which the military arm played a dominant role. Valour in war was, in fact, the surest path to advancement in Aztec society, which was caste- and class-divided but nonetheless vertically fluid.
The Aztec empire religion
Religion: Aztec religion was syncretistic, absorbing elements from many other Mesoamericancultures. At base, it shared many of the cosmological beliefs of earlier peoples, notably theMayas. Prominent in the Aztec pantheon wereHuitzilopochtli, god of war;Tonatiuh, god of the sun;Tlaloc, god of rain; andQuetzalcóatl, the Feathered Serpent, who was part deity and partculturehero.
The Aztec empire sacrifices
Sacrifices: Human sacrifice, particularly by offering a victim’sheart to Tonatiuh, was commonly practiced – This will become one of the ”justifications” for the Spanish intervention.
Andean Civilization: The Inca Empire. Some Key Points (full slide)
Predecessors: The Inca empire was preceded by other important cultures such as the Chavin, Nazca, Moche, Huari and Tiwanaku civilizations (watch next video)
Origins: Manco Capac established the Inca Empire in 1438. He declared himself Sapa Inca, divine son of the Sun.. Most historians agree there were 13 emperors during the time when the Incan Empire existed.
Extension: The Inca originated in the village of Paqari-tampu, about 15 miles south of Cuzco.. Their empire ran along thePacific coast and Andean highlands from the northern border of current dayEcuadorto the Maule River inChile. There were over a million people who were Inca.
Language and writing: The official language of the Inca was Quecha. However, they had no written language. They kept their history alive through stories that were passed from father to son, and they were able to use mnemotechnic devices known as “quipus”
Religion: The Incas worshipped many gods and goddesses. The major Incan god was the god of nature, Viracocha, the creator. Another god was Inti, the sun god. Gold was the symbol of Inti. The sun god temple is the most important structure in Cusco, the major city of the Incas. The Incas believed Inti was the father of Inca rulers.
Architecture and Engineering: The Ancient Inca built aqueducts, cities, temples, fortresses, tunnels, suspension bridges, and 2,250 miles of roads. The Inca pyramids were built with mud bricks of clay that were mixed with dry straw from the corn plant. When the Incas found a pyramid that had been built by another culture, they would build their own Inca temple on top of it. This practice was also replicated by the Spaniards
Art and Science: The Inca had skills in music, textiles, wood and stone carving, art, and poetry. The Inca were also highly skilled in working with all types of metals. They also had elaborated medical practices.
Andean Civilization: The Inca Empire predecessors
The Inca empire was preceded by other important cultures such as the Chavin, Nazca, Moche, Huari and Tiwanaku civilizations (watch next video)
Andean Civilization: The Inca Empire origins
Manco Capac established the Inca Empire in 1438. He declared himself Sapa Inca, divine son of the Sun.. Most historians agree there were 13 emperors during the time when the Incan Empire existed.
Andean Civilization: The Inca Empire extension
The Inca originated in the village of Paqari-tampu, about 15 miles south of Cuzco.. Their empire ran along thePacific coast and Andean highlands from the northern border of current dayEcuadorto the Maule River inChile. There were over a million people who were Inca
Andean Civilization: The Inca Empire language and writing
The official language of the Inca was Quecha. However, they had no written language. They kept their history alive through stories that were passed from father to son, and they were able to use mnemotechnic devices known as “quipus
Andean Civilization: The Inca Empire religion
The Incas worshipped many gods and goddesses. The major Incan god was the god of nature, Viracocha, the creator. Another god was Inti, the sun god. Gold was the symbol of Inti. The sun god temple is the most important structure in Cusco, the major city of the Incas. The Incas believed Inti was the father of Inca rulers
Andean Civilization: The Inca Empire architecture and engineering
The Ancient Inca built aqueducts, cities, temples, fortresses, tunnels, suspension bridges, and 2,250 miles of roads. The Inca pyramids were built with mud bricks of clay that were mixed with dry straw from the corn plant. When the Incas found a pyramid that had been built by another culture, they would build their own Inca temple on top of it. This practice was also replicated by the Spaniards
Andean Civilization: The Inca Empire art and science
The Inca had skills in music, textiles, wood and stone carving, art, and poetry. The Inca were also highly skilled in working with all types of metals. They also had elaborated medical practices.
