world history unit 1

conquest of constantinople

Constantinople was conquered by the Ottoman empire in 1453 and the Ottomans renamed it Istanbul. The Ottoman empire was a powerful force for 500 years. Signified that the Ottomans were real since they toppled the Byzantine empire. Showed a power shift in the middle east. Became Turkey.

ottoman cultural achievements

While the Ottoman empire conquered many diverse cultures, it was very tolerant of them. Different ethnic groups were allowed to practice their religious beliefs and retain their cultures. During the height of their existence they invented medical school, medical training, anatomical encyclopedias, technology for exploration.

Disease and death of native population

10s of 1000s of Natives died from disease brought to the Americas by the Spanish.

devshirme

A practice of the Ottoman empire to take Christian boys (Balkans south eastern europe) from their home communities to serve as janissaries. Ottomans kidnapped young boys and converted them to Islam, taught them how to be an Ottoman and Ottoman history. When these men reached age 18 they took a test and the guys that scored top 15% became administrators of the empire. The other 85% would become janissaries. Ottomans placed the highest test scores in positions of power. Hence making it a meritocracy.

Importance of silver

In the early 1570's the Ming Chinese government required that all taxes be paid in silver, so many people in China suddenly needed silver, and so nations that had lots of silver made a big profit. Spain became the leading producer of silver in the Americas as they used enslaved native Americans and African slaves for silver mining.

What are the different ways exploration/colonization was financed

Joint stock companies. Many merchants pooled their resources, reducing the costs and risks of colonization. Investors bought shares/stocks in company and if it makes money, each investor received a profit.

Favorable Balance of Trade for the European Country

Mercantilism; each country's surplus had to be met by another's deficit, this increased competition among western european nations. An economic system developing during the decay of feudalism to unify and increase the power and especially the monetary wealth of a nation by a strict governmental regulation of the entire national economy usually through policies designed to secure an accumulation of bullion. Countries actively sought trade and new trade networks and did not import more than they exported. A trade deficit implied weakness in one's own country.

Cash Crops - triangle trade:

Merchants carried sugar, molasses, cotton, (cash crops), and other American goods. North Africa trades enslaved Africans and Europe traded many manufactured goods.

importance of istanbul

Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453 established itself as the power in the Middle East. Constantinople was renamed Istanbul, and it had control of eastern trade routes as it was the middleman.

trade (ottoman empire)

Ottoman control of eastern trade routes created a great deal of concern for the Europeans. The middle east was dominated by the Ottomans and the Persians, the two Islamic empires. It acted as a crossroads of trade, linking Europe, Africa, and Asia. It prospered as it taxed and regulated the trade networking.

Social hierarchy in colonies

Peninsulares: people born in Spain. They filled the highest government positions in both colonial governments and the Catholic church. Creoles: American-born descendants of Spanish settlers. They owned most of the plantations, ranches, and mines. Mestizos (Native American and European) and mulattos (African and European) had decreased opportunities Native Americans and Africans were the lowest social class and had the least opportunity.

Cultural Blending

Spanish culture was dominant in the cities but diverse traditions throughout the Americas became blended. Settlers learned Native American styles of building, ate food native to the Americas, and traveled in Indian-style canoes. Indian artistic styles influenced the newcomers. Europeans taught their religion to the Native Americans and they introduced animals such as the horse, transforming the lives of many Native Americans.

janissaries

The Janissary corps was originally staffed by Christian youths from the Balkan provinces who were converted to Islām on being drafted into the Ottoman service

religious policy (ottoman)

The Ottoman empire was tolerant of other religions and allowed diverse cultures to practice their religions as long as they recognized the superiority of Islam and payed the government a tax. The tax was called jezya. Ahead of their time in this respect.

Consequences of conquest:

The Spanish brought with them from Europe guns, horses, and diseases. European diseases which native Americans had no immunity to caused the population to decimate. Silver mines were established in Peru and with newly accumulated wealth, Spain became Europe's greatest power.

Causes and Effects of inflation at this time

Ultimately there was too much silver in circulation so it lost its value. This led to inflation and poverty although it increased the wealth of some countries.

meritocracy

government or the holding of power by people selected on the basis of their ability. The Ottoman placed top achieving in positions of power. In a lot of Muslim culture it was all about father, brother, son. Creates tension because relatives may or may not get positions of power. By bringing in outside boys that become men they are making it more objective and there are no family ties.

Triangle Trade & Middle Passage

included north Africa, the Americas, and Europe. North Africa traded enslaved peoples, the Americas traded primarily raw goods, and Europe traded both food and finished items.

suleiman

longest reigning sultan of the Ottoman empire, ruled from 1520-1566 at its highest point. Under him the Ottoman empire enjoyed its golden age. Poets adapted Persian and Arab models to produce works in the Turkish language. He had many wives.

code of law (ottoman)

the Kanun was a set of laws which supplemented the administrative authority of the sultan and the Islamic law. Called the millet system and they had their system but they allowed jews and christians to have their own law systems too. This basically allowed non-muslim communities to practice their own legal system.

African slave trade/Workforce/labor

the spanish began bringing Africans to the Americas as slave labor by the 1530s. The demand for sugar had increased and Native American populations had decreased from both disease and too much physical labor. African slaves were forced to work as field hands, miners, or servants in the houses of wealthy landowners.

world trade after 1450

world trade after 1500 had a wider scope. The western hemisphere is now involved and trading enslaved peoples became more prominent between Africa and the Americas. Overall, trade in the eastern hemisphere was more contained and violent.

world trade before 1450

world trade before 1450 was limited to the eastern hemisphere. It was peaceful, diverse, bustling, profitable, and there was not much government intervention.