Chapter 14 was all about Empires and how they were successful and also many of their flaws. We learn about the Atlantic Slave trade and how it made a permanent link between Africa and the Western Hemisphere. There was also a global silver trade and it allowed Europeans to use the New World to make their way into Asian Trade Routes. After this trade route was more used, diseases were more easily spread and also ideas. One of the most important modern cultural development took place in Europe, which is where the Scientific revolution was transformed. Male dominance was found to be natural in most European cultures, and we still see this today, and I find it interesting that it has always been that way, but it is something that I expected.
In Russia, the largest territorial Empire, became a massive Russian and an Asian European power.
There were many modern empires, but those of Western Europe were very distinct because they were started by maritime voyages. The Spanish placed most of their focus in the Caribbean and in the early 16th Century, they turned to the mainland, with many conquests of the powerful Aztec and Incan Empires. Something I found interesting and had never heard about is called the "Great Dying" which was the demographic falling of Native American Societies. It is believed that Pre-Columbian population of the Western Hemisphere was possibly 60-80 million people, and 90% died due to the exposure of the European and African diseases brought about by Maritime trading. The Great Dying created a small shortage of labor and did not make room for immigrants. After slaves were put to use though, the calories that were coming from corn and potatoes helped increase the population from 60 million to 390 million in a matter of 500 years. The many societies that were created in the Americas were the starters of the process of globalization and recreated the world economy of the Modern Era. Mercantilism is something that became used in American societies. It was said that European governments served their countries economic interests best by encouraging exports and accumulating metals.
When the Spanish conquest of the Azetc and Inca empires happened, this gave SPain access to the most wealthy, urbanized, and highly populated regions of the West. Mesitzos were given a name, and were a mixed race population. THe Spanish royalty actually encouraged settlers to marry into Indian families.
Sugar is believed to have transformed Brazil and the Caribbean, its production involved growing the sugarcane and processing it, and it was very labor intensive, but highly profitable.
Racial tensions were ever present and it existed in the sense that white characteristics and features were prized more highly than their black counterparts.
The Russian empire stretched to the pacific and took hold in three centuries between 1500 and 1800. A growing line of wooden forts offered protection to frontier towns and trading centers. Over 3 centuries, Siberia and the steppes were incorporated into the Russian state, but Russia acquired their empire in a unique way other than many other Western Europeans did.
For a long time, China had interacted with the people of Mongolia, Singiang, and Tibet, making a close connection for discoveries. Many security issues motivated China's empire creation. Chinese or Qing officials didnt seek to assimilate local people into Chinese culture and showed respect for the Mongialin cultures.
The Muslims and Hindus in the Mughal Empire used many brutal conquests. Akbar and his successors downplayed an Islamic identify to the Mughal empire. Eventually, it was renamed Istanbul and son became the capital city of the Ottoman Empire. .
European empires in the long run had a much heavier impact on the people they included.
Overall this chapter was very interesting and really broke down how the Empires worked and got started.
Post any comments if you have any :)
Aloha!
Resources: Ways of the World- A Brief Global History. Robert W. Strayer
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