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

Causes of European Expansion

Technological

• Adoption and innovation of maritime technology.
• Key adopted technologies:
  • Magnetic compass (China).
  • Astrolabe (Greece and Arab world).
  • Lateen sail (Arab merchants).
• Innovations:
  • Portuguese Caravel: Smaller, fast, could navigate rivers and coastal areas, loaded with cannons.
• Improved understanding of regional wind patterns.

Political

• Growth of state power and monarchs’ power at the expense of the nobility.
• Centralization led to a significant role in economic decisions.
• Need to find sea-based routes to Asia to bypass land-based trading routes controlled by land-based empires.

Economic

• Mercantilism: State-driven economic system, viewed wealth as a pie (gold and silver), desired a favorable balance of trade.
  • Encouraged overseas colonization.
• Joint stock companies: Limited liability business ventures funded by private investors.
  • Example: Dutch East India Company (VOC).
  • Created strong state-merchant interdependence.

Major European States and Explorers

• Portugal
  • Led by Prince Henry the Navigator.
  • Established a trading post empire in Africa and Indian Ocean.
• Spain
  • Sponsored Christopher Columbus.
  • Focused on colonization, transatlantic trade, and established base in the Philippines.
• France
  • Explored Canada, emphasized fur trade.
• England
  • Queen Elizabeth I’s era: Established colonies in Virginia, interested in Indian Ocean.
• Dutch
  • Gained independence, prosperous state, VOC dominance in Indian Ocean and spice trade.

The Columbian Exchange

• Transfer of diseases, food, plants, animals between hemispheres.
• Diseases: Smallpox, measles, malaria (devastating to indigenous population).
• Food/Plants: Wheat, grapes, sugar (from Europe); maize, potatoes (from Americas).
• Animals: Horses (revolutionized Plains’ hunting), pigs, sheep.

Resistance to European Expansion

Asian States

• Tokugawa Japan
  • Initially open to trade, then resisted due to threat of Christianity.
  • Isolated itself except for Dutch trade.

Local Resistance in Europe

• The Fronde (France)
  • Nobility-led rebellion against absolutism and increased taxes.

Enslaved Resistance

• Maroon Societies
  • Runaway slave communities resisted colonial troops (e.g., in Jamaica).

African States’ Participation

• Asante Empire: Prosperity through gold, ivory, slaves; expanded military and political power.
• Kingdom of the Congo: Strong economic ties with Portugal; converted to Christianity.

Change and Continuity in Networks of Exchange

Indian Ocean Network

• European dominance altered dynamics but original merchants continued trade.
• Example: Gujarati merchants enhanced Mughal Empire’s power.

Atlantic System of Trade

• New system: Sugar and silver were pivotal.
• Silver enabled European commercial ties with China.
• Expansion relied on enslaved African labor.

Labor Systems in the Americas

Existing Systems

• Mita System: Continued by Spanish for silver mining, adapted from Inca system.

New Systems

• Chattel Slavery: Race-based, hereditary.
• Indentured Servitude: Contract-based labor, prevalent in British colonies.
• Encomienda System: Forced labor for Spanish settlers.
• Hacienda System: Land-based forced labor focused on agriculture.

Changing Belief Systems

• Significant role of Christianity in Americas’ colonization.
• Religious syncretism: Blending of Christian and indigenous practices (e.g., Vodun).

Social Hierarchies

Ethnic and Religious Diversity

• Treatment of Jews: Expulsion from Spain and Portugal; welcomed by Ottoman Empire.

Rise of New Political Elites

• Castas System (Spanish Colonies): Hierarchical racial classification.
• Transition from Ming to Qing (China): Manchu dominance over Han Chinese.

Struggle of Existing Elites

• Example: Russian Boyars’ power waned under Peter the Great.