Period 4 1450 - 1750 CE Crash Course Videos

What is a "trading post-empire"?

A trading post empire is the comprising of various coastal cities controlled by one power to benefit from trade.

According to Crosby, was the Columbian Exchange positive or negative in its effect on the environment? Explain.

According to Crosby, the Columbian Exchange was a negative effect on the Earth's environment. This is because with the exchange came crops to be planted in soils in which they were not meant to be planted, disease was brought to each others continents causing species to go extinct.

What is the connection between disease and starvation?

Because of disease there came starvation. With the disease killing off many people there were not enough people to grow and harvest anymore crops.

Why is Columbus significant?

Columbus is significant because since his arrival in the Americas, the number of plant and animal species has diminished and the variation in species from place to place has decreased dramatically. Columbus remade the populations of animals because of his exchange and created wonders from his cross-pollination system.

What can you tell me about Christopher Columbus from information given in the video?

Columbus used Ptolemy's geography to determine the size of the Earth, when he arrived in the Americas, he believed he had arrived in the West Indies. Columbus used a method called dead reckoning where you figure out your position based on the direction of travel, the speed of travel, and the time via hourglass.

What is the connection between the demand for silver and the production of silk?

Silk had to be sold in order to acquire silver, according to their new tax structure.

Why were the European powers interested in getting involved in the Indian Ocean trade routes?

European powers were interested in getting involved with Indian Ocean trade routes because involvement led to becoming wealthy and powerful.

What is the connection between disease and war?

Many native americans had died from the diseases which have arrived in America in response to the arrival of the Europeans. This had also caused more spread because the Aztecs and the Incas fought many wars which made it easier to spread disease.

What was learned at Prince Henry's school of navigation?

Nautical knowledge was collected and new maps were created at Prince Henry's school of navigation.

How did New World crops lead to a population increase in the Old World?

New world crops led to an increase in population in the Old World due to the fact that the plants and foods that the New World have were so caloric (one of the main reasons for a doubled population in the Old World). You need less potato field to feed one family for a whole year.

What were some of the main accomplishments of the Aztecs?

One of their main accomplishments was the building of their capital city of Tenochtitlan, and the creation of chinampas, which provided food for their people.

What were the revolutionary effects of pigs, cows/oxen, and horses?

Pigs had revolutionary affected everything due to the fact that they remade the food supply. They offered an abundance of meat and breed quickly. There were also cow and oxen which had helped the Incas and us today to have powerful animals to carry heavy goods over long distances, while the cow also offered milk and meat as well. The horses however, were probably the most revolutionary. Horses are not indigenous to the New World, with them the natives left agriculture in favor for this new lifestyle of a nomadic lifestyle, for hunting buffalo.

How could silver be described as the first truly global market?

Silver could be described as the first truly global market since China had to surrender in order to secure silver that was produced in Spanish America and Japan. As stated in the video, the Spanish silver trade included even India.

In what ways did the discovery of silver in the Americas have a negative impact on societies?

Silver had an impact that influenced inflation that weakened governments. The environment suffered as the Spanish searched for precious metals and mined too much. Finally, silver lead to the destruction of the Aztec and Incan Empires, and thousands of people were killed mining for silver and the mercury used to refine it.

Why did Spain fund Columbus' expeditions?

Spain funded Columbus' expeditions because he promised Ferdinand and Isabella riches and conversions of the natives.

What areas did the Aztec influence expand over?

The Aztec influence expanded over Mexico, Guatemala, and the Yucatan Peninsula.

In what ways did the Aztecs "appease the gods"? Why?

The Aztecs appeased the gods in order to avoid their ruthless wrath, which could result in massive apocalypses and disasters. Priests would perform human sacrifices to avoid these instances.

Why did the Chinese have a large demand for silver?

The Chinese had a large demand for silver because they had run out of copper and bronze from which they made the coins for their economy.

How did population pressure in the Old World lead to population increases in the Americas?

The Columbian exchange also involved the transfer of lots of people. This is because better nutrition in the Old world allowed the population to grow.

Despite their geographic challenges how were the Incas able to unify their empire?

The Inca were able to unify their empire as a result of trade and their effective administrative structure. The Inca mandated that their people learn the Incan language and that men had to work for the government for a specified period of time each year.

Which 2 countries did the Line of Demarcation involve? What was the agreement?

The Line of Demarcation involved Portugal and Spain. The agreement between them was to "split" the world into land controlled by the Spanish and land controlled by the Portuguese.

What commonalities existed between the Spanish political systems and the Aztec/Inca systems that made it easier for the Spanish to establish rule?

The Mit'a system and their hierarchical structure existed between the Spanish political system and the Aztec/Inca systems that made it easier for the Spanish to establish rule. There was also a similar between secular and religious powers in these regions.

What empires were the precursors to the Aztecs?

The Olmecs and the Mayans were precursors to the Aztecs.

What were the Portuguese motivations for exploration?

The Portuguese motivations for exploration were to acquire gold and convert people to Christianity.

Why were the Portuguese similar to Indian Ocean pirates?

The Portuguese were similar to Indian Ocean pirates in the way that they extorted ships from outsiders and used the cartaz system to limit who was able to trade in the towns that they controlled.

How did the Spanish change the previous "mita" system to their benefit?

The Spanish changed the previous mit'a system to mine for and process silver. One seventh of the adult male native population from each district was required to work in silver mines for a year, being paid only subsistence wages.

Despite the influx of silver making Spain the wealthiest nation in Europe, why did their economy begin to decline?

The Spanish economy began to decline because they had never set tax rates on silver and only began doing so sixty years after its discovery, when the money was worth less than before. Along with this, Spain borrowed money from other countries which they could not pay back due to rebellions.

What are 2 reasons why the Spanish relied on natives as a labor source instead of importing slaves from Africa?

The Spanish relied on natives from labor because it was cheaper than importing workers from Africa and African workers would have had no experience working at the high altitudes of the regions.

Did the diversity of people increase or decrease?

The diversity of people increased.

What similarities do the Chinese and Spanish share in regards to the impact of silver on their economy?

The glut of silk led to a price drop that hurt the Chinese economy, similar but not as harmful as the impact of silk on Spain. Silver also made both economies rich temporarily. Also, the Ming government failed to peg taxes on inflation and spent their money on defense.

Describe the political and social structure of the Aztec empire.

The political structure was hierarchical, and it contained an emperor at the uppermost level. The nobles were beneath, and there was also a class of priests.

What were the purposes of Zheng He's expeditions?

The purposes of Zheng He's expeditions was to carry out trade missions and bring prestige and respect to China as a result of the tribute system.

How can tobacco be seen as "revenge" for smallpox?

Tobacco can be seen as 'revenge' for smallpox because tobacco was connected to smoking which has a very high death rates throughout time period.

What can you tell me about Vasco De Gama from information given in the video?

Vasco de Gama was an explorer from Portugal who was a protégé of Prince Henry the Navigator. De Gama was the first of Henry's protégés to sail around Africa and reach India.

Why can we say we truly have world history?

We can say we truly have world history because the lands explored by He, de Gama, and Columbus involved areas all around the world, not just the Eastern Hemisphere.

Who had bigger ships?

Zheng He

Who had more ships?

Zheng He

What did Zheng He bring back to China?

Zheng He brought exotic animals from Africa, including rhinos, zebras, and giraffes.

What can you tell me about Zheng He from information given in the video?

Zheng He was a Muslim, who lived in 14th century China. He was also a eunuch. He led 7 expeditions with an armada of over 300 ships with over 27,000 people as his crew.