AP World History: Unit 4 - Maritime Empires (1450-1750)
Causes of European Expansion
Technological Causes
- Adoption of Maritime Technology: Europeans adopted technologies like the magnetic compass (China), the astrolabe (Ancient Greece and Arab world), and the lateen sail (used by Arab merchants).
- Innovations: Europeans innovated in shipbuilding, notably the Portuguese Caravel, which was smaller, faster, and could navigate shallow waters.
- Understanding of Wind Patterns: Improved knowledge of Atlantic and Indian Ocean wind patterns.
Political Causes
- Growth of State Power: European monarchs gained power, centralized it, and played a significant role in economic decisions.
- Demand for Asian Spices: High demand for spices led to the need for alternative sea-based trade routes due to high land-trade costs.
Economic Causes
- Mercantilism: Economic system focused on accumulating wealth through a favorable balance of trade (export more than import).
- Joint Stock Companies: Limited liability businesses funded by investors, crucial for exploration and expansion (e.g., Dutch East India Company - VOC).
Main Players in Maritime Empires
Portugal
- Prince Henry the Navigator: Initiated exploration along Africa's coast.
- Trading Post Empire: Established factories along the coast of Africa and the Indian Ocean.
Spain
- Christopher Columbus: Sponsored to find a western route to spices; discovered the Americas.
- Colonization: Established colonies in the Americas and the Philippines.
France
- North America: Established presence in Canada; focused on the fur trade.
England
- Colonial Ventures: Established colonies like Virginia; participated in trade in the Indian Ocean.
Dutch
- Independence from Spain: Became prosperous, dominated the Indian Ocean trade through VOC.
Effects of Maritime Expansion
The Columbian Exchange
- Transfer of Diseases: Smallpox, measles, and malaria devastated indigenous American populations.
- Transfer of Food and Plants: Wheat, olives, and grapes introduced to the Americas; maize and potatoes to Europe, leading to population growth.
- Transfer of Animals: Introduction of pigs, sheep, and horses to the Americas.
Resistance to European Expansion
Asia
- Japan: Tokugawa Shogunate expelled Christian missionaries; limited foreign influence.
Local Resistance
- France: Nobility-led rebellions (the Fronde) against monarchical power.
Enslaved Peoples
- Maroon Societies: Runaway slave communities in the Caribbean resisted colonial power.
Economic Impact on Africa
- Asante Empire: Grew wealthy by trading with Europeans.
- Kingdom of Kongo: Established trade relations with Portugal, converted to Christianity.
Changes in Trade Networks
Indian Ocean
- European Interference: Increased trade profits but continued traditional merchant use.
Atlantic System
- Introduction of New Trade Routes: Sugar and silver became major exports; labor relied on coerced labor, including enslaved Africans.
Changes and Continuities in Labor Systems
Americas
- Mita System: Adapted from Inca for mining by the Spanish.
- Chattel Slavery: Racially based and hereditary.
- Indentured Servitude: Contract-bound labor for passage to the Americas.
- Encomienda and Hacienda Systems: Forced labor systems used by the Spanish.
Changes in Belief Systems
- Christianity in the Americas: Spread by missionaries, led to religious syncretism with indigenous beliefs.
Changing Social Hierarchies
Ethnic and Religious Diversity
- Jewish Expulsion: From Spain and Portugal; refuge in the Ottoman Empire.
New Political Elites
- Casta System: Spanish colonial racial hierarchy.
- Qing Dynasty: Reserved top bureaucratic positions for Manchu ethnicity.
Struggles of Existing Elites
- Russia: Curtailed power of the boyars under Peter the Great.
For further detailed study, consider exploring the AP World History review guides and practice materials for a more comprehensive understanding.