Chapter 12 Study Questions

Explain the transformation of the African slave trade during this period. What role did the growth of sugar plantations play?

Africa's islands were prime locations for growing sugarcane. The Portuguese introduced sugarcane on large plantains and used slave labor from heartland of Africa which later inspired the agricultural slave plantations in the new world. Sugar also competed with silver for the most valuable export from the americas, and surpassed in the 18th century. In the sugar plantations, the slaves were mostly men, so when they died off, more slaves had to be captured in Africa and sent to the new world

How did Spain create a vast empire in the Americas. How did the spread of lethal disease influence this outcome?

Diseases such as smallpox, typhus, and cholera devastated the America people and their populations suffered greatly and helped the Europeans conquer and colonize. With the discovery of gold, the Spanish crown granted ecomenderos to incintives conquistadors. After the riches in the Caribbean dried up, they set off to find more riches and landed on the main land. Because the natives were not accustomed to warfare of Afro-Eurasia, they were ill prepared to combat them. After the defeat of the Aztec forces, the Spanish learned that an effective conquest had to be swift and completely remove symbols of legitmate authority.

What were the trading patterns in Afro-Eurasia during the 15th century. How is it similar to mongols period.

From Ferdinand Magellan's sail across the globe, it connected Afro-Eurasia with the americas. Europe with Asia. Europe to west africa. Europe becomes empire expanders. Trade across deas supplemented in the Indian Ocean and China seas as the focal points of maritime commerce

Explain the role of silver in transforming global trade patterns during the 16th century. Which regions and dynasties benefited from the increased use of silver for monetary transactions?

Silver was essential to the Ming monetary system and tax payments. Japan was called "the silver islands" The Philippines under spanish control became gateway for silver into the americas. 1/3 of all silver mined in the Americas ended up in china. India would export pepper and textiles for silver.

Explain the Environmental consequences of the first contacts between Europeans and Native Americans. What consequences did the Columbian exchange have on regions both beyond the Atlantic world and within it?

The Columbian exchange consisted of plants, pathogens, and people unkown into the new world. Most profound effect/destructive was the pathogens. First it was smallpox, second was measles, 3rd was the pneumonic plague and influenza. Pathogens wiped out up to 90% of the population. The cattle brought in had no natural predators, therefore reproduced rapidly destroying landscapes. Clearing of forests undermined the habitats of many indigenous mammals and birds. Finally, the natives began to look like the Europeans called ecological imperialism.

Compare and Contrast Spain's tributary empire in the Americas with Portugal's seaborne empire in the Indian ocean. why did they pursue different strategies?

The Portuguese success in the Indian ocean partly was a result of military technology that was borrowed from Asia (gunpowder), and would bombard other navies or merchant ships with cannons. The pursuit to exploit Asia's commercial networks and trading systems were ideal for Portugal with no intent on establishing colonies. Also Portugal traded "in the name of the crown" and fought for it. To make a statement de Gama from Portugal boarded 20 ships and cut off the ears, noses, and hands of sailors. However, Spain's conquest of the America's was accidental. Originally, they funded Columbus's voyage in hopes of riches to fight Muslims in Jerusalem. Their main goal was to "save souls and to make money" and drove their colonization of the Americas and the formation of an Atlantic system. MORE IMPORTANTLY they also wanted to extract wealth without settling. BUT DIFFERENT FROM PORTUGAL it wasnt all about money, but controlling huge amounts of teritory.

Evaluate to what extent an increased European presence altered the political balance of power in Asia at this time. How did Asian dynasties react to increased European contacts

The arrival of European sailors and traders strenghtened ties across the region and enhanced the political power and expansionist interests of Asia's Imperial regimes. Ming court refused to establish an official relationship with European traders. Actually build an armed wall to keep them out.

What conditions promoted the strengthening of regional dynasties in Europe in the 16 century as opposed to the growth of one large European Empire.

The colonization of the Americas sharpened rivalries between European countries. Also the Atlantic system. The split between the Roman Catholic Church also did not help. French, English, and Dutch envied the riches of Portugal and Spain. The English defeat over the Spanish Armada was a striking blow to unification. Also, Christendom continued to be at war with itself.

Compare and contrast political and commercial developments in the Mughal and Ming dynasties during the 16th century. How did the expansion of global commerce affect each region.

Under the Ming, commerce rebounded and the Chinese achieved impressive econ expansion and internal economy was the spring. They specialized in silk, cotton, rice, porcelain ceramics, and paper. Mughal empire was one of islam's greatest regimes. They had no navy, but used land routes and rivers to exchange Indian cottons, tabacco, saffron, betel leaf, sugar, and other shit. Mughal state relied on tribute collectors called "zamindars". BOTH confined Europeans to costal enclaves.