Unit Unit IIII: When Cultures : When Cultures CollideCollide

Eurasian Trade NetworksEurasian Trade Networks From a historical standpoint it From a historical standpoint it

was far more likely that the was far more likely that the Chinese would have settled the Chinese would have settled the New World instead of the New World instead of the Europeans. By the year 1400 the Europeans. By the year 1400 the Chinese had a far more complex Chinese had a far more complex culture than the Europeans who culture than the Europeans who stood on the edge of world stood on the edge of world commerce. commerce.

The Chinese between 1405-34 The Chinese between 1405-34 had a powerful navy that could had a powerful navy that could have easily sailed around Africa have easily sailed around Africa and into European harbors. Had and into European harbors. Had they the course of Western they the course of Western Civilization would have changed Civilization would have changed dramatically.dramatically.

After the death of the Chinese After the death of the Chinese leader Cheng Ho in 1434 the new leader Cheng Ho in 1434 the new emperor banned oceanic travel emperor banned oceanic travel believing that the rest of the believing that the rest of the world had nothing to offer. The world had nothing to offer. The Chinese profited heavily from Chinese profited heavily from trade with the Europeans though trade with the Europeans though across the Silk Road. across the Silk Road.

Silk Road

The Chinese silk road provided Asian silks and The Chinese silk road provided Asian silks and spices to the Europeans through a complex trade spices to the Europeans through a complex trade system.system.

The western end of the silk road The western end of the silk road was controlled by Islamic leaders was controlled by Islamic leaders who profited from the trade who profited from the trade routes. Since the Europeans had routes. Since the Europeans had very little to offer Asian societies very little to offer Asian societies they relied on gold and silver to they relied on gold and silver to purchase Asian goods.purchase Asian goods.

Islamic societies had begun to Islamic societies had begun to flourish in the Middle East by the flourish in the Middle East by the mid-7th century. Spreading out mid-7th century. Spreading out from Saudi Arabia the beliefs of from Saudi Arabia the beliefs of Muhammad were very appealing Muhammad were very appealing to the Bedouin caravan traders. to the Bedouin caravan traders.

By 733, just 100 years after the death of Muhammad, the founder of Islam, an ordered Islamic state stretched from India in the east to Spain in the west.

The growth of Islam across the Middle East and The growth of Islam across the Middle East and North Africa led to a direct conflict with the North Africa led to a direct conflict with the Christian communities of Europe and the Christian communities of Europe and the Mediterranean. (Christianity in 600)Mediterranean. (Christianity in 600)

Muslim advances in the Middle East Muslim advances in the Middle East brought them into conflict with the brought them into conflict with the Jewish communities surrounding Jewish communities surrounding Jerusalem.Jerusalem.

IslamIslam JudaismJudaism ChristianityChristianity

In addition to the religious In addition to the religious differences that shaped the differences that shaped the Mediterranean and its vital trade Mediterranean and its vital trade routes, Greek and Roman traditions routes, Greek and Roman traditions were also important. were also important.

Greece and Rome had a tremendous Greece and Rome had a tremendous impact on European and Middle impact on European and Middle Eastern civilization. In particular the Eastern civilization. In particular the ideas of Greek and Roman politics ideas of Greek and Roman politics became central to the development became central to the development of Europe. of Europe.

European political development was European political development was based on the Roman concepts of based on the Roman concepts of government. Roman Law which had government. Roman Law which had codified over several centuries is the codified over several centuries is the basis of law in Western civilization.basis of law in Western civilization.

In addition the decline of Rome In addition the decline of Rome beginning in the 5beginning in the 5thth century led to century led to the development of several small the development of several small kingdoms which eventually became kingdoms which eventually became the kingdoms of Europe.the kingdoms of Europe.

European Growth European Growth Between 476 and 1400 Middle Between 476 and 1400 Middle

Age Europe began to develop Age Europe began to develop into powerful Kingdoms that into powerful Kingdoms that could challenge the growth of could challenge the growth of Islam.Islam.

The powerful land owning lords The powerful land owning lords throughout Europe became the throughout Europe became the central authorities and protectors central authorities and protectors of the people in return for their of the people in return for their service. The social organization, service. The social organization, known as feudalism, between the known as feudalism, between the lord and vassal would dominate lord and vassal would dominate Europe during the Middle Ages.Europe during the Middle Ages.

During the Middle Ages the During the Middle Ages the population increased population increased dramatically to over 100 million. dramatically to over 100 million. This large increase in population This large increase in population was due in part to the increase in was due in part to the increase in agricultural production.agricultural production.

An improvement in climate An improvement in climate produced longer growing seasons produced longer growing seasons and the amount of arable land and the amount of arable land increased. The clearing of increased. The clearing of forested areas and the drainage forested areas and the drainage of swamps allowed thousands of of swamps allowed thousands of acres to be cultivated.acres to be cultivated.

The extensive use of iron allowed The extensive use of iron allowed for the production of axes and for the production of axes and other farm equipment. other farm equipment.

The most important innovation The most important innovation with iron was the construction of with iron was the construction of the the carrucacarruca, a heavy-wheeled , a heavy-wheeled iron plow. The iron plow. The carrucacarruca required required seven to eight oxen to pull it, seven to eight oxen to pull it, which was slow. To increase the which was slow. To increase the speed of the plow horses were speed of the plow horses were used. used.

Two inventions made the horses Two inventions made the horses more effective: a new collar, more effective: a new collar, which distributed the weight which distributed the weight around the shoulders rather than around the shoulders rather than the neck of the horse and the the neck of the horse and the horseshoe allowed them to move horseshoe allowed them to move over harder land.over harder land.

In most communities the horses In most communities the horses and plow were purchased as a and plow were purchased as a group. Communities also built group. Communities also built mills to grind grain along streams mills to grind grain along streams and developed windmills to grind and developed windmills to grind grain. Farmer also shifted from a grain. Farmer also shifted from a two-field rotation to a three-field two-field rotation to a three-field rotation. In the early Middle Ages rotation. In the early Middle Ages one field lay fallow to regain its one field lay fallow to regain its fertility.fertility.

Farmers eventually divided the Farmers eventually divided the estate into three fields. On field estate into three fields. On field was planted in the fall with was planted in the fall with winter grains, another field was winter grains, another field was planted with spring grains and planted with spring grains and vegetables, and the third lay vegetables, and the third lay fallow. The fields were rotated to fallow. The fields were rotated to keep from exhausting the land. keep from exhausting the land.

The rapid growth of Europe created The rapid growth of Europe created two significant events in European two significant events in European history. history.

1)1) The Black Death: At the beginning The Black Death: At the beginning of the fourteenth century there of the fourteenth century there were noticeable changes in were noticeable changes in European weather patterns as European weather patterns as growing seasons shortened and growing seasons shortened and constant, heavy rains led to constant, heavy rains led to widespread famine and hunger. widespread famine and hunger.

The famine led to chronic The famine led to chronic malnutrition, which in turn malnutrition, which in turn contributed to increased infant contributed to increased infant mortality, lower birthrates and mortality, lower birthrates and higher susceptibility to disease. higher susceptibility to disease.

The bubonic plague spread from The bubonic plague spread from Asia to Europe across Eurasian Asia to Europe across Eurasian trade routes as Mongol invaders trade routes as Mongol invaders began pushing across the silk road.began pushing across the silk road.

By 1349 the plague had reached By 1349 the plague had reached England. It is estimated that the England. It is estimated that the plague killed 100 million people, plague killed 100 million people, 25 million in Europe. 25 million in Europe.

2) The Crusades: In 1071 the 2) The Crusades: In 1071 the emperor of the Byzantine Empire, emperor of the Byzantine Empire, threatened by the Turks, asked threatened by the Turks, asked for help from the Catholic Church for help from the Catholic Church and the European kings. and the European kings.

The Pope declared that knights who The Pope declared that knights who fought in the Crusades to free the fought in the Crusades to free the Holy Land from the Muslims would Holy Land from the Muslims would receive salvation. In addition the receive salvation. In addition the crusades gave the Europeans access crusades gave the Europeans access to the Asian and Indian goods that to the Asian and Indian goods that caravan traders moved across the caravan traders moved across the silk road and the Sahara desert. silk road and the Sahara desert.

As European nations began As European nations began competing for trade in the Orient competing for trade in the Orient they began looking for quicker routes they began looking for quicker routes East. East.

Origins of European ExplorationOrigins of European Exploration Exploration was an outgrowth of the Exploration was an outgrowth of the

crusades as various nations sent crusades as various nations sent explorers to increase Christianity and explorers to increase Christianity and share in the wealth of the new lands. share in the wealth of the new lands.

The population growth of the Gentry The population growth of the Gentry created land hunger, which led them created land hunger, which led them to look outside of Europe for land to look outside of Europe for land and wealth. and wealth.

The last major influence on the The last major influence on the age of exploration was the age of exploration was the Renaissance. Accurate maps and Renaissance. Accurate maps and new inventions for boats began new inventions for boats began to appear. to appear.

The compass was improved upon The compass was improved upon and the astrolabe was invented and the astrolabe was invented to determine your location on the to determine your location on the sea by using the stars. sea by using the stars.

European nations had begun European nations had begun trading with the Orient trading with the Orient encouraging economic and encouraging economic and intellectual growth. intellectual growth.

For centuries trade had been For centuries trade had been done through Muslim middlemen done through Muslim middlemen and Venetian merchants creating and Venetian merchants creating higher prices. European higher prices. European merchants wanted to establish merchants wanted to establish direct sea routes to by-pass direct sea routes to by-pass these merchants. these merchants.

The printing press, invented by The printing press, invented by Gutenberg, created a way for Gutenberg, created a way for thousands to read about the thousands to read about the exploits of Marco Polo, published exploits of Marco Polo, published during the 14during the 14thth century. century.

Another important advancement Another important advancement in the exploration of the Atlantic in the exploration of the Atlantic was the knowledge of the wind was the knowledge of the wind patterns. patterns.

Cultural CollisionCultural Collision

Portugal: The Unlikely PioneerPortugal: The Unlikely Pioneer During the 14During the 14thth century Portugal century Portugal

became a kingdom after expelling became a kingdom after expelling Muslim invaders. The capital Lisbon Muslim invaders. The capital Lisbon had a population of less than 40,000 had a population of less than 40,000 and its merchant marine was tiny and its merchant marine was tiny compared to its rival nations. compared to its rival nations. Portugal did not however suffer from Portugal did not however suffer from internal strife and its location gave it internal strife and its location gave it the ability to control trade between the ability to control trade between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. the Mediterranean and the Atlantic.

The Portuguese wanted to The Portuguese wanted to establish trade access along the establish trade access along the African coast to cut Arab traders African coast to cut Arab traders out of the market for African out of the market for African slaves, gold and ivory. This would slaves, gold and ivory. This would make Portugal a maritime power.make Portugal a maritime power.

In 1420, Prince Henry the In 1420, Prince Henry the Navigator, sponsored sailors Navigator, sponsored sailors willing to sail into the willing to sail into the unchartered waters of southern unchartered waters of southern Africa. His motives were a blend Africa. His motives were a blend of finding allies against the of finding allies against the Muslims and acquiring new Muslims and acquiring new trading partners for Portugal and trading partners for Portugal and extending Christianity. extending Christianity.

The Portuguese also mapped the The Portuguese also mapped the prevailing winds and ocean prevailing winds and ocean currents and built new ships, currents and built new ships, called caravels, which were called caravels, which were modeled on Arab vessels. They modeled on Arab vessels. They also mounted cannons on the also mounted cannons on the ships which gave them a massive ships which gave them a massive advantage when they advantage when they encountered European or Muslim encountered European or Muslim navies.navies.

Rumors of an ocean route around Rumors of an ocean route around the southern tip of Africa brought the southern tip of Africa brought further exploration. In 1488 further exploration. In 1488 Bartolomeu Dias sailed around Bartolomeu Dias sailed around the Cape of Good Hope but the Cape of Good Hope but turned back fearing mutiny from turned back fearing mutiny from his crew. In 1497 Vasco de Gama his crew. In 1497 Vasco de Gama sailed around the cape to India. sailed around the cape to India.

Portuguese exploration led to the Portuguese exploration led to the development of the African slave development of the African slave trade. African slavery had existed trade. African slavery had existed for centuries as means to for centuries as means to eliminate competition between eliminate competition between tribes. However, the introduction tribes. However, the introduction of Europeans changed the slave of Europeans changed the slave system. system.

It became extremely lucrative for It became extremely lucrative for both sides and created both sides and created destructive wars between tribes.destructive wars between tribes.

Europeans partly justified slavery Europeans partly justified slavery through the claim that through the claim that enslavement offered the enslavement offered the opportunity for conversion. opportunity for conversion.

Slaves are depicted here carrying sugarcane for processing in the rollers of a sugarcane mill.

This illustration depicts Africans traders escorting captured slaves to coastal shipping ports to be sold to European traders.

The economic impulse behind The economic impulse behind colonization was thus well colonization was thus well entrenched before Columbus set sail entrenched before Columbus set sail across the Atlantic. The European across the Atlantic. The European desire to acquire gold and silver to desire to acquire gold and silver to purchase Asian goods provided a purchase Asian goods provided a stimulus for uncharted exploration. stimulus for uncharted exploration.

Even though most did not find gold Even though most did not find gold and silver, staple crops and and silver, staple crops and abundance of slaves kept exploration abundance of slaves kept exploration alive well after the Spanish found the alive well after the Spanish found the New World. New World.