AP World History: Maritime Empires (1450-1750)

Causes of European Expansion

1. Technological Advances

• Adoption and Innovation:
  • Magnetic Compass: Developed in China, used by Europeans.
  • Astrolabe: From Greece and Arab world, for latitude calculation.
  • Lateen Sail: Allowed sailing from multiple wind angles, from Arab merchants.
• Shipbuilding Innovations:
  • Portuguese Caravel: Smaller, faster, better navigable ships with cannons.
  • Understanding of wind patterns in Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

2. Political Factors

• Centralization of Power:
  • Monarchs grew powerful at the expense of nobility.
  • Played key roles in economic decisions, especially trade.
• Need for New Trade Routes:
  • Desire for Asian spices and goods.
  • Land-based trade routes controlled by other empires were expensive.
  • Incentive to find sea-based routes.

3. Economic Motivations

• Mercantilism:
  • Wealth viewed as a fixed pie (gold and silver).
  • Goal was a favorable balance of trade.
  • Colonies existed to enrich the parent country.
• Joint Stock Companies:
  • Limited liability companies, funded by private investors.
  • Example: Dutch East India Company (VOC), monopoly on Indian Ocean trade.

Main Players in Maritime Empires

Portugal

• Prince Henry the Navigator:
  • Focused on Atlantic African coast and Indian Ocean.
• Trading Post Empire:
  • Set up barebones trading posts called factories along coasts.

Spain

• Christopher Columbus:
  • Sought western route to Asia; discovered Americas instead.
• Colonization:
  • Established colonies, not just trading posts.
  • Based operations in the Philippines.

France

• Canada and Fur Trade:
  • Focus on small trading holdings in Canada.

England

• North America Colonization:
  • Initial failure at Roanoke; success with Jamestown (1607).
• India:
  • Established trading posts, limited naval power.

The Dutch

• VOC dominance:
  • Challenged Spanish and Portuguese control.
  • Monopoly over spice trade and strategic locations.

The Columbian Exchange

Transfer of Diseases

• Smallpox, Measles, Malaria:
  • Devastating impact on indigenous American populations.

Transfer of Food and Plants

• To Americas: Wheat, olives, grapes; later rice, bananas, sugar.
• To Old World: Maize, potatoes; led to population growth.
• Enslaved African influence: Okra, rice introduced.

Transfer of Animals

• Pigs, sheep, cattle; significant impact of horses on Plains peoples.

Resistance to European Empires

Asian and Local Resistance

• Tokugawa Japan:
  • Initially open; later resisted European influence, Christianity.
• The Fronde in France:
  • Noble rebellion against increased taxation.
  • Ultimately strengthened monarchy.
• Maroon Societies:
  • Runaway slave communities in the Caribbean and Brazil.
  • Notable: Queen Nanny in Jamaica.

African States in Global Trade

Growth of African States

• Asante Empire:
  • Prosperous through gold, ivory, slave trade.
• Kingdom of Kongo:
  • Diplomatic ties with Portuguese, conversion to Christianity.

Changes and Continuities in Trade Networks

Indian Ocean

• European Influence:
  • Europeans increased trade profits for all, but could not dominate fully.
• Overland routes:
  • Remain controlled by Asian powers like Ming China, Ottoman Empire.

Atlantic System

• New Trade Network:
  • Sugar and silver became key commodities.
• Labor:
  • Coerced labor systems like slavery, indentured servitude.

Labor Systems

Existing Labor Systems

• Mita System:
  • Used by Incas, adapted by Spanish for mining.

New Labor Systems

• Chattel Slavery: Race-based, hereditary.
• Indentured Servitude: Contract-based labor for fixed terms.
• Encomienda and Hacienda Systems:
  • Encomienda: Control of indigenous labor.
  • Hacienda: Landownership focused.

Social and Religious Changes

Resistance and Adaptation

• Christian Conversion:
  • Syncretism; blending of Christian and indigenous beliefs.
• Vodun:
  • African animist beliefs blended with Christianity.

Changes in Social Hierarchies

• Ethnic and Religious Policies:
  • Expulsion of Jews in Spain; welcomed in the Ottoman Empire.
• New Political Elites:
  • Spanish Casta System.
  • Qing Dynasty favoring Manchu over Han.
• Old Elite Struggles:
  • Russian Boyars vs. Peter the Great.

This comprehensive summary of Maritime Empires from 1450 to 1750 covers the technological, political, and economic causes of European expansion, the key players, and the impact of the Columbian Exchange, among other topics.