Overview
This lecture covers the major patterns of global transformation between 1450 and 1750, focusing on the rise of new empires, changes in trade, and cultural exchanges.
Early Modern World Transformations (1450–1750)
- The era marked the rise of large land and maritime empires in Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
- Gunpowder empires, like the Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal, expanded through military technology.
- European nations established overseas colonies in the Americas, Africa, and Asia.
- The Columbian Exchange introduced new crops, animals, and diseases across continents.
- Population growth occurred due to new foods from the Americas, despite deadly disease outbreaks.
- Global trade networks intensified, connecting distant parts of the world more closely than before.
Empires and State Building
- The Ottoman Empire controlled much of the eastern Mediterranean and southeastern Europe.
- The Safavid Empire ruled Persia and promoted Shi'a Islam.
- The Mughal Empire united most of the Indian subcontinent under a single rule.
- Russian expansion moved east across Siberia, reaching the Pacific by 1639.
- The Ming and Qing dynasties in China maintained strong central governments.
- In Japan, the Tokugawa shogunate enforced a strict feudal order.
Maritime Expansion and Global Trade
- Portuguese and Spanish navigators charted new ocean routes around Africa and across the Atlantic.
- The Atlantic slave trade grew, forcibly transporting millions of Africans to the Americas.
- Silver from the Americas funded European and Asian economies.
- European trading companies, like the Dutch and English East India Companies, established overseas monopolies.
Cultural Changes and Exchanges
- Christian missionaries spread European religions and ideas worldwide.
- Artistic and scientific innovations circulated along global trade routes.
- Local cultures blended with foreign influences, creating new hybrid societies.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Gunpowder Empires — States that used firearms to expand territory (Ottoman, Safavid, Mughal).
- Columbian Exchange — Transfer of plants, animals, people, and diseases between the Americas and the rest of the world.
- Mercantilism — Economic policy aiming to increase wealth by maximizing exports and accumulating precious metals.
- Atlantic Slave Trade — Forced movement of Africans to the Americas for labor.
- Joint-Stock Company — A business entity where shares are owned by investors, enabling large-scale trade projects.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Read textbook Chapter 16 in detail, focusing on the rise of empires and global trade.
- Prepare notes on how the Columbian Exchange transformed societies on different continents.