Unit 4: Maritime Empires from 1450 to 1750 - AP World History

Causes of European Expansion

Adoption of Maritime Technology: Europeans adopted maritime technologies such as the magnetic compass (China), astrolabe (Greece/Arab world), and latine sail (Arab merchants).
Innovations: Europeans developed new technologies like shipbuilding. Example: Portuguese Caravel, smaller and faster ships capable of inland navigation and loaded with cannons.
Understanding of Wind Patterns: Improved knowledge of regional wind patterns in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

Centralization of Power: European monarchs became more powerful, often at the expense of the nobility.
State Influence on Economic Decisions: Monarchs had significant control over inter-regional trade decisions.
Desire for Direct Trade Routes: Land-based empires controlled traditional trade routes, raising goods prices. European states sought sea-based routes for direct access to Asian spices and goods.

Mercantilism: State-driven economic system aiming to maximize wealth in gold and silver. Emphasized exporting goods and avoiding imports.
Joint-Stock Companies: Limited liability businesses often chartered by the state. States and merchants were mutually dependent. Example: Dutch East India Company (VOC) chartered in 1602, dominated Indian Ocean trade.

Prince Henry the Navigator: Led efforts to explore the Atlantic coast of Africa.
Trading Post Empire: Established minimal trading posts called factories along the African coast and Indian Ocean

Christopher Columbus: Sailed westward, landed in the Americas.
Colonial Empire: Focused on full colonization rather than trading posts. Established operations in the Philippines and the Americas.

Colonial Ventures: Established colonies like Jamestown in Virginia. Interested in Indian trade but initially lacked naval power.

Dutch East India Company (VOC): Dominated Indian Ocean trade, established control over strategic locations.
Colonial Ventures: Colonized regions like New Amsterdam in the Americas.

Disease Transfer: European diseases (smallpox, measles, malaria) devastated indigenous populations in the Americas.
Food and Plant Transfer: European foods like wheat, grapes, and olives to the Americas. American crops like maize, potatoes, and tomatoes to Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Animal Transfer: Europeans introduced pigs, sheep, cattle, and horses to the Americas.

Tokugawa Japan: Initially open to European trade, later isolated itself due to the threat of Christianity.

The Fronde (France): Rebellions against increased taxation and absolutism, crushed by the monarchy.

Maroon Societies: Communities of runaway slaves in the Caribbean and Brazil resisted colonial powers.

Asante Empire: Became wealthy by trading gold, ivory, and enslaved people. Enabled military expansion.
Kingdom of Kongo: Partnered with Portuguese, traded goods like gold and copper.

European Intervention: European states increasingly dominated but existing traders continued their commerce.
Middle Eastern and Asian Merchants: Continued to trade despite European presence.

New Trade Routes: Goods, wealth, and laborers between eastern and western hemispheres. Sugar and silver were central to this trade.

Mita System: Continued by Spanish for silver mining.
Chattel Slavery: Race-based, hereditary slavery in the Atlantic system.
Indentured Servitude: Laborers bound by contract for a set time.
Encomienda System: Indigenous labor for Spanish settlers in exchange for protection.
Hacienda System: Large plantations worked by forced indigenous laborers.

Missionary Efforts: Catholic missionaries aimed to convert indigenous populations, resulting in syncretism.

Treatment of Jews: Spain and Portugal expelled Jews; the Ottoman Empire welcomed them.

Casta System (Spanish Americas): Hierarchical system based on race and ancestry.
Transition in China: Qing dynasty reserved top positions for Manchus.