The West and the The West and the Changing World BalanceChanging World Balance

Focus Question: How did the balance of Focus Question: How did the balance of world power shift from east (Middle East world power shift from east (Middle East and Asia) to west (Europe) by the end of and Asia) to west (Europe) by the end of

the 1400s?the 1400s?

Themes: It’s a Hodgepodge Themes: It’s a Hodgepodge Chapter!!!Chapter!!!

1400 – a shift in balance occurs between 1400 – a shift in balance occurs between world civilizationsworld civilizations

The world-wide role of Islam was in declineThe world-wide role of Islam was in decline China made one last attempt to influence the China made one last attempt to influence the

world before falling into isolationworld before falling into isolation Western Europe was becoming the dominant Western Europe was becoming the dominant

world region (Italy, Spain and Portugal)world region (Italy, Spain and Portugal) The Americas and Polynesia also experienced The Americas and Polynesia also experienced

significant changessignificant changes

A Change in the Middle EastA Change in the Middle East Byzantium and the Abbasid dynasty were gone…Byzantium and the Abbasid dynasty were gone…

Byzantium was crushed by the Ottomans, the Byzantium was crushed by the Ottomans, the Abbasids by the MongolsAbbasids by the Mongols

Religious leaders began to dominate artistic Religious leaders began to dominate artistic endeavors…most Islamic thinkers (like Averroes) had endeavors…most Islamic thinkers (like Averroes) had to practice beliefs outside of the Islamic heartland to practice beliefs outside of the Islamic heartland (Greek rationalism)(Greek rationalism)

Sufis still ran around emphasizing mystical contact Sufis still ran around emphasizing mystical contact with Godwith God

Economic power was in decline…agricultural Economic power was in decline…agricultural productivity diminished as feudalism found its way productivity diminished as feudalism found its way into Muslim societyinto Muslim society

European traders overtook and avoided Muslim European traders overtook and avoided Muslim traders and tax revenues from trade declined traders and tax revenues from trade declined (Mediterranean)(Mediterranean)

The Ottomans did not help the economic situation…The Ottomans did not help the economic situation…they did not focus on overland trade (which fell into they did not focus on overland trade (which fell into the hands of the Mongols), rather spent their the hands of the Mongols), rather spent their existence conquering and expanding territory…their existence conquering and expanding territory…their empire would be solely based on agriculture (leading empire would be solely based on agriculture (leading to their decline during the industrial revolution)to their decline during the industrial revolution)

The Ottomans did, however for a short period, along The Ottomans did, however for a short period, along with the Safavids maintain an Indian Ocean trading with the Safavids maintain an Indian Ocean trading network that would become the basis for trans-network that would become the basis for trans-oceanic trade in the coming centuriesoceanic trade in the coming centuries

Chinese Thrust and WithdrawChinese Thrust and Withdraw The Ming dynasty replaced the Yuan dynasty in The Ming dynasty replaced the Yuan dynasty in

1368 and pushed to regain China’s previous 1368 and pushed to regain China’s previous bordersborders

The Ming (under the leadership of Hongwu) The Ming (under the leadership of Hongwu) reasserted themselves over their neighboring reasserted themselves over their neighboring states and began to “explore” surrounding states and began to “explore” surrounding areasareas

China had at this point what was perhaps the China had at this point what was perhaps the only large scale system of product manufacture only large scale system of product manufacture in the world, producing such items as weapons, in the world, producing such items as weapons, gunpowder, silk clothes, ships and porcelaingunpowder, silk clothes, ships and porcelain

Under the leadership of Yongle, the great Under the leadership of Yongle, the great navigator Cheng Ho (Zheng He) sailed the south navigator Cheng Ho (Zheng He) sailed the south seas to Africa, India, the Indies and possibly seas to Africa, India, the Indies and possibly other areas with the Ming Treasure fleetsother areas with the Ming Treasure fleets "1421: The Year China discovered the World" "1421: The Year China discovered the World"

The Ming halted Zheng’s expeditions in 1433The Ming halted Zheng’s expeditions in 1433 Bureaucrats in the scholar gentry began to Bureaucrats in the scholar gentry began to

see interaction as both costly and dangerous see interaction as both costly and dangerous to Chinato China

China became isolated once again, as China became isolated once again, as bureaucrats claimed that since internal bureaucrats claimed that since internal economic production was dominant, there was economic production was dominant, there was no need for foreign tradeno need for foreign trade

*Note: We will hear all of this again in Chapter 22*Note: We will hear all of this again in Chapter 22

Rise of the WestRise of the West Many small states in the West were still Many small states in the West were still

backward in the 14backward in the 14thth and 15 and 15thth centuries… centuries…the Catholic church was under attack…the Catholic church was under attack…kings were self-indulgent…population kings were self-indulgent…population were growing too fast and famines were were growing too fast and famines were widespread…so let’s have a plague and widespread…so let’s have a plague and kill them all off (Black Death)…1/3 of the kill them all off (Black Death)…1/3 of the population was killedpopulation was killed

Warfare was a dominant part of life for Warfare was a dominant part of life for EuropeansEuropeans

100 Years War features England vs. 100 Years War features England vs. France, demonstrating a new NON-France, demonstrating a new NON-feudal form of solicitation of warfare, feudal form of solicitation of warfare, draft and pay your troops…this gave draft and pay your troops…this gave the central monarchy greater the central monarchy greater authorityauthority

Spain and Portugal spend better Spain and Portugal spend better parts of 200+ years driving the parts of 200+ years driving the Muslims off of Iberia…this drive for Muslims off of Iberia…this drive for freedom leads both to seek a greater freedom leads both to seek a greater position in world tradeposition in world trade

Mongols had brought an era of Mongols had brought an era of prosperity to Europe as trade contact prosperity to Europe as trade contact with the east exploded…however, their with the east exploded…however, their decline put Europe in a bind…as a result, decline put Europe in a bind…as a result, the hunger for gold and Eastern luxuries the hunger for gold and Eastern luxuries put a strain on the newly emerging put a strain on the newly emerging Western economyWestern economy

The ultimate message was clear, find a The ultimate message was clear, find a way to bypass the Muslims to trade with way to bypass the Muslims to trade with the eastthe east

Spain…“Nobody Expects the Spain…“Nobody Expects the Spanish Inquisition”Spanish Inquisition”

Religious fervor in Spain helped Religious fervor in Spain helped to drive out the Muslims for to drive out the Muslims for good in the 15good in the 15thth century century

The kingdoms of Castile and The kingdoms of Castile and Aragon married in1469, and the Aragon married in1469, and the result was Ferdinand and result was Ferdinand and Isabella…they set forth a clear Isabella…they set forth a clear agendaagenda Persecute/expel the Persecute/expel the

“heathens” (Muslims, Jews) “heathens” (Muslims, Jews) and purify their kingdom into and purify their kingdom into a Catholic statea Catholic state

Develop the military and Develop the military and begin to expand Iberian begin to expand Iberian control into Europecontrol into Europe

Explore the world, compete Explore the world, compete with their rivals in Portugal with their rivals in Portugal for dominance of sea tradefor dominance of sea trade

Rise of the West - Rise of the West - RenaissanceRenaissance

Internal change was critical to the western surge…the Internal change was critical to the western surge…the Renaissance was just that, a cultural and political Renaissance was just that, a cultural and political movement grounded in urban vitality and expanding movement grounded in urban vitality and expanding commercecommerce

Begun in the 14Begun in the 14thth century, it started out as a literary and century, it started out as a literary and artistic movement…art imitated life and was more artistic movement…art imitated life and was more friendly to the secular worldfriendly to the secular world

Florence, Italy became the center of the movement, and Florence, Italy became the center of the movement, and realistically, the Renaissance really made little headway realistically, the Renaissance really made little headway out of Italy to the rest of the world in its early stages…out of Italy to the rest of the world in its early stages…Italy benefited solely from its developments of art, high Italy benefited solely from its developments of art, high culture, goal of personal glory etc…but the rest of Europe culture, goal of personal glory etc…but the rest of Europe would soon take noticewould soon take notice

Commercial states sought new markets and city states Commercial states sought new markets and city states emerge as trading states (Venice, Hanseatic League)emerge as trading states (Venice, Hanseatic League)

*Note – This will be discussed further in Chapter 17*Note – This will be discussed further in Chapter 17

The Exploration ExperimentThe Exploration Experiment Atlantic Exploration began…Portugal Atlantic Exploration began…Portugal

vs. Spain in a battle royale for vs. Spain in a battle royale for dominance of the seadominance of the sea

It was actually explorers from Italy It was actually explorers from Italy who first sailed out the straits of who first sailed out the straits of Gibraltar down the African coast in the Gibraltar down the African coast in the 1414thth century…Portugal and Spain century…Portugal and Spain followed suit, though these exploits followed suit, though these exploits were hindered by poor technologywere hindered by poor technology

All learned better shipbuilding All learned better shipbuilding techniques and use of techniques and use of compass/astrolabe form Muslim compass/astrolabe form Muslim explorers and sailors…Prince Henry explorers and sailors…Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal led the the Navigator of Portugal led the charge in improving sea faring charge in improving sea faring activitiesactivities

Portugal and Spain began to settle the Portugal and Spain began to settle the Canary Islands, Madeiras and Azores…Canary Islands, Madeiras and Azores…the royalty set up land grants on these the royalty set up land grants on these islands and they experimented with islands and they experimented with the plantation economy, growing cash the plantation economy, growing cash cropscrops

Americas and PolynesiaAmericas and Polynesia The Aztec and Inca empires of the The Aztec and Inca empires of the

late 1400s began a period of late 1400s began a period of decline…internal warfare and civil decline…internal warfare and civil uprisings occurred frequently…uprisings occurred frequently…eventually, European invasion eventually, European invasion would take advantage of itwould take advantage of it

In Polynesia, In Polynesia, explorations/colonization of South explorations/colonization of South Pacific Islands from the original Pacific Islands from the original hearth (map 347) occurred from hearth (map 347) occurred from the 7the 7thth century into the 1400s… century into the 1400s…Hawaii was settled, then cut off Hawaii was settled, then cut off form the rest of Polynesia by form the rest of Polynesia by 1400…a distinct agricultural 1400…a distinct agricultural society developed…kingdoms and society developed…kingdoms and warring states emerged on the warring states emerged on the individual islands…a social order individual islands…a social order of priests, nobles and peasants of priests, nobles and peasants was also established…rich oral was also established…rich oral traditions (stories) and the Hawaii traditions (stories) and the Hawaii language (13 letter alphabet) language (13 letter alphabet) preserved cultural valuespreserved cultural values

Maori New ZealandMaori New Zealand Parallel to the development of Hawaii, Parallel to the development of Hawaii,

Polynesians settled New Zealand in the 8Polynesians settled New Zealand in the 8thth century and became isolated as the Maoricentury and became isolated as the Maori

New Zealand provided a different climate New Zealand provided a different climate and larger amount of territory and the and larger amount of territory and the development of Maori society was more development of Maori society was more complexcomplex

Similar political institutions were Similar political institutions were established, with military leaders and established, with military leaders and priests, but differences existed in that priests, but differences existed in that each held slaves gained in warfareeach held slaves gained in warfare

The Maori were highly skilled artists, but The Maori were highly skilled artists, but they had no skill at metallurgy…the they had no skill at metallurgy…the economy also was based on agricultural economy also was based on agricultural developmentdevelopment

Lastly, the Maori too compiled rich oral Lastly, the Maori too compiled rich oral traditions of their society traditions of their society

Summing up the ChangesSumming up the Changes Clearly, there are a series of events that make the Clearly, there are a series of events that make the

1400s a great period of transition in world history1400s a great period of transition in world history The collapse of Muslim empiresThe collapse of Muslim empires The transition of technological knowledge and The transition of technological knowledge and

learning from east to westlearning from east to west The drive for sea-born exploration, spurred by The drive for sea-born exploration, spurred by

competition between regional kingdomscompetition between regional kingdoms These transitions created lasting impacts (next These transitions created lasting impacts (next

unit)unit) The conquest of the AmericasThe conquest of the Americas The conquest and subjugation of AfricaThe conquest and subjugation of Africa The move towards mercantilism and global tradeThe move towards mercantilism and global trade The first vestiges of Imperialism in the EastThe first vestiges of Imperialism in the East