HS201 / European History Mr. Manno
1500…
No indication that Europe would dominate the world in the future. Eastern Empires – wealth & vast armies Europe’s landscape was not that fertile nor was it populous…Ice to the north and water north and west… Europe was never united under one secular or religious leader. Up and coming powers: Spain, France, France, England…all England…all had internal internal struggles struggle s and considered considered each other rivals rather than a united front against Islam.
Ming China
Most advanced civilization of pre-modern times…population of 100-130 million (Europe 50-55 million)…advanced political and agricultural system. Printing press….huge libraries Trade and industry…extensive trade routes…commerce helped by the use of paper currency…Iron industry – 125,000 tons per annum (larger than the output of GB during the IR of the 1800’s) Gunpowder / Cannons Magnetic Compass / helped with exploration & trade
Ming China…Cont.
Naval warfare…Ming navy had 1,350 combat vessels and many private ships Admiral Cheng Ho – 1405 & 1433 overseas expeditions…Interesting point: the Chinese never plundered nor murdered…unlike their European counterparts. After 1433 there was an imperial edict banning the construction of seagoing ships…Cheng Ho’s ships wasted away as China turned to an isolationist position supported by their Confucian bureaucracy.
Ming China…Cont.
Chinese did not like trade and the acquisition of private capital because they had little control over the merchants. Despite these internal issues that would appear to stunt growth, there were still some tremendous technological advances. Unfortunately, some advisors believed that the canal system, ironworks and navy were not necessary so they began to decay…use of paper currency was discontinued… Merchants suffered because overseas trade was banned. Even after the Ming Dynasty was replaced…the steady decline could not be stopped…
The Muslim World
Ottoman Empire – expansion=threat to Christendom Formidable army – domains stretched from the Crimea to the Balkan Peninsula…by 1529 they were besieging Vienna. Also a threat…Ottoman Navy…active along the North African Coast and were raiding ports in Italy, Spain, and Balkan Peninsula. Official faith/culture/language = unity Advanced in Science & Industry 14 million strong / strong bureaucracy
Ottoman Empire 1580
The Muslim World…Cont.
Ottoman Turks would eventually become isolationist… Any further expansion would have an enormous cost in men and money… By the late 1500’s, the empire was overextended… After 1566, there reigned 13 incompetent sultans… Too highly centralized… Merchant class - taxes and seizure of property. Free thought forbidden Imports yes – exports no
The Muslim World…
Plagues hurt population because they did not adopt new containment methods.
Mogul Empire
Sheer size / military genius / sophisticated banking & credit system Muslim elite ruling poverty-stricken peasants Hinduism Became a victim of British imperialism Problems with unsanitary conditions because of religious taboos…rodents and insects could not be killed…bubonic plagues…
Mogul Empire…Cont.
Internal rather than external problems were the root of the decay…
Two Outsiders-Japan & Russia
Japan – geography an asset – protection from a land invasion Power structure – clan-based feudal lordships and the emperor Profit from East Asian trade Japanese pirates plundered Chinese and Korean coasts Welcomed goods from western traders Importation of European armaments would change the political landscape…those who could purchase muskets and cannons would have power…
Japan…cont.
Warlord Hideyoshi…tried to conquer Korea twice…failed…died in 1598…civil strife in Japan… After a few years…power was consolidated in the hands of Ieyasu and fellow shoguns of the Tokugawa clan… Shoguns decided to cut themselves off from the outside world…trade and travel not encouraged …samurai warriors now had a life of ritual and boredom…
Russia…
Far removed from the West… Muskets and cannons from the West would help Russia become a Gunpowder Empire and throttle expansion. Despite borrowing some things from the West, Russia was still technologically and economically backward. Problems: Climate, Distances between cities, poor communication system, military absolutism of Czars, Monopoly of education by Church, serfdom Despite problems…Russia would survive & expand
The European Miracle: Thesis
There was a “dynamic” involved which contributed to Europe’s commercial and military primacy in world affairs. This “dynamic” was driven chiefly by economic and technological advances and was always interacting with other variables such as social, structure, geography, and the occasional accident. The following factors served as vital forces in advancing the political, military and economic strength of Europe. Their interaction with one another collectively represents the “dynamic” which impacted the course of historical development in Europe.
Europe 1500
Political Fragmentation
Even the Romans had problems with this… Fractured landscape/Geography – great plains, mountains, multiple fertile zones, varied climates, waterways Scattered population centers – usually centered in fertile valleys Variety of economic and military centers Religious antagonisms and national tensions Competition – military and economic
Resources
Bulk products – timber, grain, wine, wool, herring Surrounded by ocean – helped to promote the shipbuilding industry Varied climate = varied products (regional product specialization) ex. Oranges/South Apples/North Growing population (labor is considered a resource and one of the factors of production)
Trade/Exploration
Once people experienced the incentives…it could not be suppressed. Rough seas required strong 3 mast ships…slow---but could carry large loads Incentives…profit…glory…rivalry…products from the new world Mercantilism/Development of Mercantile economy…bankers, arms dealers and artisans became essential to society. Methodical development, financing (credit & banking system), organization for sea exploration(centralized nation-states) Some leaders tolerated merchants / some did not…most leaders began to see the benefits of a market economy
Military
Antagonisms (proximity of states, religious and national differences) helped to fuel the arms race, innovation and invention) Commercial success requires a strong military…land and naval support for trade Nation-States=organization, administration, and strength Gunpowder Empires – new techniques of warfare allowed for certain nations to dominate rivals…knowledge and possession of gunpowder Access to materials and knowledge available to all (trade routes, printing press, trade diffused information and goods)
Misc.
Since shipbuilding skills were known by all…it was hard for any power to monopolize maritime power Printing Press Greek and Roman civilizations passed on heritage via educated elite Sense of Europe as a united Christendom against barbarians of the rest of the world infused continent with a feeling of purpose. Personalities (inventors, men of letters)
Misc. Part II
Medieval institutions (church, laws, class system, educated clergy) Chance/Luck Snowball Effect Cannons on sailing vessels – changed warfare – helped Europe advance around the world…New tactic – no boarding – fight with artillery Sense of adventure – personal gain
Misc. Part III
Worldwide Products: gold, silver, whale oil, sugar, tobacco, rice, furs, timber, potato, fish… Bulk products created many jobs and stimulated the shipbuilding industry… Beginnings of a primitive global economy??? Science & Technology Improvements: navigation tables, telescope, barometer, compass, iron industry, astronomy, medicine, physics, engineering…all helped to fuel expansion…
