Unit 4 Flashcards
What is the historical impact of Columbus’ Voyages? How did he initially view the geography of the world? How did the Portuguese and Spanish advisors view differ?
It caused a race for the new land and territory among many large empires. Columbus thought the distance from the Iberian Peninsula to the Western edge of Asia was a much shorter distance than it actually was, and thought the earth was mostly land. The advisors viewed the distance as much greater than Columbus realized, but didn’t know that the America’s lay between them.
How were the voyages of Columbus and Zheng He similar and different?
China was richer and Spain and Portugal had large motivations bevause of their small size. The navigators from the Chinese voyages knew the location of each destination because they followed the two hajj routes, where as Columbus was consciously exploring.
What was the Treaty if Tordesillas? How did it treat Christian lands?
A treaty by Portugal and Spain that established a dividing line, west of the line belonged to Spain and east of the line belonged to Portugal. They also could not affect lands ruled by a Christian monarch.
Why did the Inca eventually fall to Pizzaro?
The Spainish forces led by Pizzaro at a time where the was a fight over the Inca throne after the small pox epidemic that Pizzaro took advantage of.
What were the key characteristics of the encomienda system?
Encomienda means “trusted”, its was a system established by the Spanish in hope of clarifying arrangements with the colonists and ending the abuse of indigenous people in the Americas.
What were the key characteristics of the Columbian exchange?
An exchange of plants, animals, goods and diseases across the Atlantic ocean between Europe and the Americas after 1492.
What disease was brought the Europe from the Americas?
Syphilis
Describe the racial divisions of the New World, who most the most and least respected?
At the top of society and most respected were those born in Europe, below them were creoles, those with 2 European parents born in the Americas, below them were those of mixed descent, and below them and least respected were Amerindians and African slaves.
What is Humanism? Who were the early Humanists?
Humanism was an early intellectual movement in Italy by scholars. They studied the same texts as before, but they tried to impart a more general understanding of them to their students in hope that students would improve morally and help others do the same.
Who was Henry the Navigator? How did Christianity motivate him? How did he deal with slavery?
Henry the Navigator was a Portuguese Prince who led an army of several thousand men to capture the fortress of Ceuta hoping to convert them to Christianity. He was engaged in slavery and started bringing them back to Europe and presenting and selling them
What was the predominant religion during the Ming dynasty?
There was a mix lf many religions, although, Confucianism was most predominant.
Who was Vasco da Gama and why was he significant?
He was a Portuguese explorer who led the first European naval expiedition to India by sailing around Africa, laying the foundation for Portuguese presence in India.
Why were the Portuguese not interested in building an empire where they traded? What is a good example of this?
They could insert themselves in anyones commercial economy and extort payments. An example of this is requiring all traders in the Indian Ocean to purchase a protection license from them, if there were traders with no protection license, they could risk being shot down. People had to pay to be protected from violence the Portuguese themselves created.
Why did the Portuguese trade on the Indian ocean decline?
To gain access to African, Middle Eastern, and Asian trade products and profits, as well as expand their power.
What was a joint stock company?
Business organizations in which shares are sold to multiple stock holders to raise funds for trading ventures, while spreading risk and profit; often backed by government charters backed by monopolies of particular goods or with specific region. These originated because if something went wrong with a single venture from a single merchant, they could be financially ruined.
What joint stock company profited the most from spice trade in the east?
The Dutch East India company
How did silver stimulate trade?
Silver was what connected the Americas, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. The Europeans finally had something productive to offer to the Asian economy which allowed a world economy to begin.
What type of trade eventually replaced the importance of trading gold in Africa?
The sugar/slave plantation trade produced huge profits after gold in Africa.
How did African slave trade impact sugar production in the Americas?
African slave trade increased sugar production because it was able to be produced more efficiently at a lower cost.
How did the Mughal empire become the most powerful state in South Asia?
Mughal India was able to rise because it was in a good region to expand and conduct massive trade.
Why did the Mughal empire lose power on the Indian Ocean?
Akbar’s successor was a weak ruler and didn’t anything about rebellions so his wife had to deal with it all, she exported rebels overseas.
Who was emperor Akbar? Why was he important? How did he treat religious tolerance?
Emperor Akbar was the emperor of Mughal India. He ruled Mughal India at its height. His religous policy was of tolerance and inclusion.
Summarize Hindu and Muslim relations in India.
Hindus in India were incorporated into the administrative system at a regional level and Muslim rulers were very tolerant of them. The Hindu people were accustomed to a social system where not much attention was directed to people outside their caste, so they might have viewed Muslims as just another caste.
What was the Madate of heaven like in 16th century China?
The ruler was the “son of heaven” and the ruler ruled with the “Mandate of heaven”. China also established themselves as the Middle kingdom and the center of the world.
How did Ming emperors view China compared to the rest of the world?
The emperor viewed foreign kingdoms as tributaries. They were expected to send annual missions bearing tribute in acknowledgement of China’s preeminent position.
How did the worldwide silver trade present problems for Ming China?
The Ming had a negative ciew on seaborne trade. By not engaging in the world economy, since their trade was stimulated by silver from distant lands, they were vulnerable to distant economic shocks and inflation
What caused the Ming to decline?
The decline of the Ming was associated with the Wanli emperor, who was apathetic to his duties, and allowed corruption in the government and let bandits run free, and let the dynasty fall apart.
Describe Japanese samuri.
The Japanese followed a strict code of honor and loyalty called the bushido code. They were also practitioners of Zen schoolnand Bhuddism, with emphasis on discipline and acute awareness.
Describe the power of the Japanese emperor.
The Japanese emperor was a ritual figure with no real authority. Their greatest political power was the ability to act as a supreme military ruler who acted independently of the imperial court.
What was the bushido code?
A strict code of honor and loyalty followed by Japanese samuri
