Global Connections: 1450-1750 Review

Overview

• Era marked by unprecedented global connections and interactions.
• Expansion of empires and trade networks; European exploration of the Americas began.
• Emergence of new economic systems like the transatlantic slave trade.
• Intellectual and religious developments: Scientific Revolution, Enlightenment, Protestant Reformation.
• Technological innovations and globalization laid foundations for the modern world.

Likely Topics on Unit Test

• Causes of the Columbian Exchange: Essential for understanding the era.
• Effects on the New World: High-yield topic; impacts of diseases, crops, animals.
• Effects on the Old World: Equally important as New World effects; crops, silver, population changes.
• Role of States in Maritime Exploration: Tested through Portugal, Spain, Dutch examples.
• Economic Motives for Exploration: Connects to spice/silver trade; a fundamental driver.

Key Concepts & Time Period Overview

• Expansion of major empires: Ottoman, Mughal, Qing.
• European colonization of the Americas and the transatlantic slave trade.
• Rise of gunpowder empires in Eurasia.
• Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment challenged traditional beliefs.
• Protestant Reformation split Western Christianity.
• Globalization of trade networks, leading to exchanges of goods, ideas, and diseases (Columbian Exchange).

Major Empires and Their Expansion

• Ottoman Empire: Expanded into Europe, Africa, Middle East; peak under Suleiman the Magnificent.
• Mughal Empire: Established in India; expansion and religious tolerance under Akbar.
• Qing Dynasty: Replaced Ming in China; consolidated and expanded under Kangxi and Qianlong.
• Russian Empire: Emerged under Peter the Great; expanded territory, modernized society.
• Spanish & Portuguese Empires: Colonized Americas; conquered Aztec and Inca.

Global Trade Networks and Economic Systems

• Continual Silk Road and expanded Indian Ocean trade.
• Transatlantic trade: Triangular trade and slave trade.
• Columbian Exchange: New crops, animals, diseases exchanged between Old and New Worlds.
• Rise of European joint-stock companies and mercantilism.

Technological and Maritime Innovations

• Spread of gunpowder technology; revolutionized warfare.
• Printing Press: Spread of knowledge, ideas, religious beliefs; contributed to Scientific Revolution.
• Navigation Tools: Magnetic compass, astrolabe, caravels, galleons.
• Improved sails and ship design for ocean voyages.

Cultural Exchanges and Religious Developments

• Cultural and religious diversity in Islamic empires; Protestant Reformation's impact.
• Catholic Counter-Reformation and syncretism in religious practices.
• Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment promoted empirical observation, rational inquiry.

Social and Political Transformations

• Emergence of absolute monarchies in Europe.
• Division of European society into distinct social classes.
• Impact of the Atlantic slave trade on African and American societies.
• Economic systems like hacienda and putting-out system.

Conflicts and Warfare

• Thirty Years' War: Religious and political conflict; Peace of Westphalia established state sovereignty.
• Ottoman-Habsburg Wars: Limited Ottoman expansion.
• Mughal-Maratha Wars: Challenged Mughal authority.
• Seven Years' War: Established British dominance.
• Slave Revolts: Challenged slavery in the Americas.

Legacy and Impact on Modern World

• Lasting impacts of European colonization and Atlantic slave trade.
• Transformations from the Columbian Exchange.
• Foundation for modern capitalism and economic systems.
• Intellectual foundations from Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment.
• Ongoing religious transformations and spread of European languages.
• Modern borders and nation-states shaped by colonial legacies.