AP World History: Unit 4 - Maritime Empires (1450-1750)

Introduction

• Focus on the development of Maritime Empires between 1450 and 1750.
• Key causes for European expansion: Technological, Political, Economic.

Causes of European Exploration

Technological Advances

• European adoption and innovation of maritime technology.
  • Adoption from Greek, Islamic, and Asian worlds.
    • Magnetic compass (China), Astrolabe (Greece/Arab), Lateen sail (Arab merchants).
  • European innovations: Shipbuilding, e.g., Portuguese Caravel.
  • Improved understanding of wind patterns.

Political Growth

• Centralization of power in European monarchies.
• Monarchs played significant roles in economic decisions, particularly trade.
  • Incentive to find sea-based routes to Asia.

Economic Incentives

• Mercantilism: State-driven economic system to amass wealth.
  • Focus on favorable balance of trade.
  • Colonies existed to enrich the imperial country.
• Joint Stock Companies: Limited liability businesses (e.g., Dutch East India Company).
  • State and merchant interdependence.
  • Enabled European state expansion.

Major European Players

• Portugal: First mover in maritime empire building.
  • Prince Henry the Navigator.
  • Trading post empire around Africa & Indian Ocean.
• Spain: Sponsored Columbus, Western route to Asia.
  • Colonized the Americas and Philippines.
• France, England, and Dutch: Joined later, competed for influence.
  • France: Canada, fur trade.
  • England: Colonies in America, trading posts in India.
  • Dutch: Indian Ocean dominance, VOC.

Effects of Maritime Empires

The Columbian Exchange

• Transfer of diseases, food, plants, and animals between hemispheres.
  • Diseases: Smallpox, measles, malaria devastated indigenous populations.
  • New foods increased lifespans and populations in both hemispheres.
  • Introduction of animals (e.g., horses) transformed lifestyles.

Resistance and Impact

• Asian Resistances: Tokugawa Japan resisted Christian influence.
• Local Resistance in Europe: The Fronde in France against absolutism.
• Resistance by Enslaved: Maroon societies in the Caribbean and Brazil.

Growth of African States

• Expansion of networks increased power for some African states.
  • Asante Empire and Kingdom of Kongo.

Changes in Trade Networks

• Indian Ocean: European power grabs, continuity in merchant activity.
• Atlantic System: Newly opened, slave trade, silver trade.
• Labor Systems: Continued and new systems in the Americas.
  • Chattel slavery, indentured servitude, encomienda, hacienda.

Social and Religious Changes

• Religious Changes: Syncretism in Christianity in the Americas.
  • Vodun as a blend of African beliefs and Christianity.
• Social Hierarchies: Changes and continuities.
  • Ethnic and religious diversity management.
  • Rise of new political elites, e.g., Spanish Casta system, Qing dynasty.
• Struggle of Existing Elites: Example Peter the Great vs. Russian boyars.

These notes summarize the key points from the lecture on the development of Maritime Empires and the transformative impact they had globally from the 15th to the 18th centuries.