1. And the Changing World Balance
The West
And the
Changing
World Balance

2. 1400 Islamic world in decline – Fall of Abbasids (1258) to the Mongols
Ming Dynasty in China (after fall of Mongols) tries dominate, but eventually looks inward
Western Europe – not a major power yet, but important changes occurring --- Italy, Spain, Portugal take on new leadership roles
Byzantine Empire falls to Ottoman Turks in 1453

3. Decline in the Middle East
Religious leaders become more influential…… Why???
Landlords seize power over peasantry – serfs on large estates – Result?
Tax revenues decline and Middle Eastern merchants loose ground to European competitors – Where do the Muslim merchants continue to trade?
Decline of the Mongols open up possibilities for Western Europe & China
No total collapse of Islamic civilization, …………………..
focus on religious and legal traditions
result is fall in agricultural productivity
Muslim merchants do remain active in Indian Ocean

4. Ottoman (Othmans) Turks
begin to build a very powerful empire (present day Turkey)
Focus on conquest and administration, less on commerce
Power vacuum in the Middle East……rivals to the Ottomans include India, Persia, and Egypt

5. China’s Attempt & Failure
Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644) replaces the Yuan (Mongol) Dynasty
Expeditions led by Zheng He, to India, Middle East and eastern Africa – stopped because of high costs and opposition from (Surprise, Surprise) Confucian bureaucrats
Chinese merchants will remain active in Southeast Asia but lost chance to become major world trading power……. this will open the door for the Europeans
China looses chance to become dominant world trading power

8. Rise of the West
Europe’s small states are still backward during the 14th and 15th centuries ---- The Church is under attack, Feudalism is on the decline…………………….
Food supply cannot keep up with population growth so….FAMINE
Bubonic Plague (Black Death) in the 14th century will cost Europe 1/3 of its population………

9. Impact of the Black Death
Depopulation
Wages increased
Wider distribution of wealth
Criminal activity increased
Work day extended; clocks more important
Labor shortage stimulated inventions

10. Despite all the problems, Western Europe is a dynamic society…………………
Hundred’s Years War stimulated military innovation and strengthened feudal monarchs – new states emerge
Regional rulers push the Muslims out of Spain and Portugal
Trade becomes more important
Increase in urbanization
Europeans acquire Asian technology----adapt, improve……….use in trade, navigation, & war

11. Mongols provide access to Asian technology
- luxury goods
balance of trade negative with Asia
expansion by Venice
explorations to by-pass
Muslim routes to Asia

12. Italian Renaissance more secular art & literature
cultural & political movement
- from urban vitality & commerce
city-states support merchants seeking new markets

13. cultural movement
begins in Florence
realistic paintings
perspective
early – not a full break from Medieval ideals
little impact outside of Italy
culture not science
innovations in music
Italian commerce increases –
personal glory

14. Iberian Peninsula
change stimulates west’s surge into world
Castile & Aragon
- regional monarchies
religious & military agenda
- convert or expel Muslims & Jews
link b/t church & state

15. Exploration
late 13th century - Atlantic
south along West African coast
Chinese compass & astrolabe (Arabs)
better ships
map making improves
colonies – Azores, Canary Islands

16. Prince Henry of Portugal
- gave land grants
- colonists took plants, animals & diseases to new areas
key factors
- curiosity
- religious fervor
- financial gain
cash crops produced for western markets
- slaves introduced

17. Early expansion & colonization will not effect
The Americas, Polynesia, and most of sub-Saharan Africa not part of the network
Early expansion & colonization will not effect
Eventually brought into European system
Vulnerable to European expansion

18. Americas not part of international exchange
disadvantage when outsiders intervene
Americas
Aztecs creating resentments among subjected peoples
Incas have tension b/t central & local leadership
European invasion changed dynamics of Americas

19. Polynesia
Migrations between 7th & 15th centuries
Society Islands to Polynesia
Polynesia to Hawaii
Characteristics
Agricultural society
Lack metallurgy
Independent invention

20. Adding up the changes new technologies (opportunities to copy Asian)
European initiative in weapons & ships
role of individuals
decline of Arabs reduces Africa’s contact with international world
Europeans becoming more adventurous, taking over world trade
China isolates itself
Ottoman empire not concerned with trade (decline of Muslim influence in trade)

22. What dynasty, along with the Sui, re-established and improved Chinese civilization after the fall of China’s Classical civilization?
Ming
Shang
Qin
Song
Tang

23. Why did the Mongols refrain from attacking central Europe in 1241?
The death of the Great Khan
The conversion of the Great Khan to Christianity
The conversion of the Great Khan to Buddhism
Massive military buildup in Europe\
They turned attention to Korea

24. What important cultural movement rejected Buddhism while adapting some of its themes to the predominant thought which stressed family duty and honor?
Daoism
Shinto
Zen Buddhism
Neo-Confucianism
Sikhism

25. In Japan, from the Heian period until the Tokugawa period, emperors
Shared powers with the Shinto priests
Seldom wielded any real political power
Required the Mandate of Heaven to maintain power
Came from constantly changing lineages
Maintained tight political control

26. Which factor helps explain the scientific and literary achievements of the Muslims during their Golden Age?
Expansion of transatlantic trade
Innovations introduced by the Europeans during the Renaissance
Cultural diversity accepted by many Islamic governments
Legal equality of all people in the Islamic empire
The status of women in society

27. Which of the following was a result of the Crusades?
Western knights carved out a kingdom in the Holy Land that lasted until the 1600s.
The Fourth Crusade helped strengthen the Byzantine Empire
The Crusades helped demonstrate European superiority
The Crusades helped to open the West to new cultural and economic influences from the Middle East
The Muslims adopted much of Europe’s culture

28. During the postclassical period, societies in the Americas
Remained entirely separate from those of the Old World
Experienced the initial contacts that led eventually to European invasion of the New World
Failed to develop imperial forms of government, a failure that mirrored European society
Were united under a single government
Were isolated from Europe, but had limited contact with Africans.