EARLY MODERN PERIOD – EARLY MODERN PERIOD – 1450-17501450-1750

Critical era – Stearns likes.Critical era – Stearns likes.MOST transformed by world MOST transformed by world history.history.Most dynamic debates.Most dynamic debates.Start: Chinese expeditions have Start: Chinese expeditions have ended, Fall of Constantinople, end ended, Fall of Constantinople, end of Mongol rule.of Mongol rule.

Themes that are not as Themes that are not as important:important:

Still spread of religions but less Still spread of religions but less important than P.c.important than P.c.Spread of civilization NOT a Spread of civilization NOT a sweeping theme.sweeping theme.Islam not as strong.Islam not as strong.No changes in women’s conditionsNo changes in women’s conditionsInteractions btwn. Societies Interactions btwn. Societies continues but gets redefined.continues but gets redefined.

Problems with the 1750 closing Problems with the 1750 closing date:date:

““ending this sucker not easy.”ending this sucker not easy.”Period moves to a period we are Period moves to a period we are more familiar with in Western world.more familiar with in Western world.Dare to omit: the Renaissance.Dare to omit: the Renaissance.This period is not the “West and This period is not the “West and the rest.” – West not calling all the the rest.” – West not calling all the shots, but more than in P.c.shots, but more than in P.c.

Major ThemesMajor Themes1.1. Re-balancing of major Re-balancing of major

societies /power positions – West societies /power positions – West rises – military and economy.rises – military and economy.

Naval power – navy, guns, Naval power – navy, guns, motivation gives West power on motivation gives West power on the seas – should not be the seas – should not be overstressed, though.overstressed, though.

International commerce.International commerce.

Theme 1 continues…Theme 1 continues…Rise of Russia – becomes a Rise of Russia – becomes a major player.major player.

Theme 2 – Rise of the Theme 2 – Rise of the Americas.Americas.Columbian exchange between old Columbian exchange between old world and new world.world and new world.Food, disease, etc.Food, disease, etc.American tuber crops affected China.American tuber crops affected China.Amer. Corn affected Africa and India.Amer. Corn affected Africa and India.Europe slower to pick up American Europe slower to pick up American crops.crops.

Theme 2 cont…..Theme 2 cont…..Trade routes: American potato to Trade routes: American potato to Spain to Philippines to China.Spain to Philippines to China.Most of Europe picks up later.Most of Europe picks up later.China was NOT isolated during this China was NOT isolated during this period – they just picked and chose period – they just picked and chose what they wanted from others (tea).what they wanted from others (tea).Americas hurt in 15-1600’s by Americas hurt in 15-1600’s by Columbian trade.Columbian trade.

Theme 3 – Rise of the Theme 3 – Rise of the Gunpowder Empires.Gunpowder Empires.

Political developments loom larger Political developments loom larger this period.this period.Sea based: Portuguese, Spanish, Sea based: Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, English.Dutch, English.Land based: Russian, Mughal, Land based: Russian, Mughal, Ottoman.Ottoman.These are major Empires / political These are major Empires / political units / social system.units / social system.

Theme 3 – Gunpowder, cont..Theme 3 – Gunpowder, cont..

Major change in the Americas and Major change in the Americas and these empires.these empires.Formation of Asian Empires more Formation of Asian Empires more important because they had the important because they had the biggest cities and the strongest biggest cities and the strongest political structures.political structures.

Theme 4 – Redefinition of Theme 4 – Redefinition of world trade.world trade.

1.1. West becomes more dominant.West becomes more dominant.

2.2. Americas included in the world Americas included in the world trade system.trade system.

3.3. Not only was the West more Not only was the West more important, but it had a superior important, but it had a superior trade position to the subordinate trade position to the subordinate Americas.Americas.

Theme 4 cont…Theme 4 cont…Europe: made manufactured Europe: made manufactured goods, controlled ships, companies goods, controlled ships, companies were European craft producers.were European craft producers.Americas – subordinate – raw Americas – subordinate – raw materials, exports cheap stuff, materials, exports cheap stuff, import expensive goods – losing import expensive goods – losing money.money.Americas rely heavily on slavery Americas rely heavily on slavery and forced labor.and forced labor.

Theme 4 cont…Theme 4 cont…

Late 18Late 18thth Century: West trades with Century: West trades with Russia (after Peter the Great) tries Russia (after Peter the Great) tries to avoid but can’t.to avoid but can’t.Side note: European population in Side note: European population in the 16the 16thth century – grows a little. In century – grows a little. In the 17the 17thth century – stays the same. century – stays the same.

Questions from periodQuestions from period1.1. Why was the West so much greedier Why was the West so much greedier

than the Arabs and others?than the Arabs and others? Mercantilism only practiced by Mercantilism only practiced by

Europeans.Europeans. Europeans greedily getting silver Europeans greedily getting silver

and precious metals from Americas and precious metals from Americas to trade with China and India for to trade with China and India for porcelain, silk, spices, and perfumes.porcelain, silk, spices, and perfumes.

What is not happening this What is not happening this period?period?

1.1. No global cultural theme – only No global cultural theme – only regional.regional.

2.2. Besides navy – not a huge period Besides navy – not a huge period for technological advances.for technological advances.

3.3. New global historians – proto-New global historians – proto-global but not yet global trade / global but not yet global trade / cultural diffusion. cultural diffusion.

4. David Christian – advent of 4. David Christian – advent of commercial society increases social commercial society increases social injustice (ie. China).injustice (ie. China).

How does one explain the rise How does one explain the rise of the West?of the West?

The “West is best” idea – the West The “West is best” idea – the West rose because a new Renaissance rose because a new Renaissance and culture became more and culture became more individualistic, secular, and started individualistic, secular, and started exploring. More effective political exploring. More effective political units.units.

How does one explain the rise How does one explain the rise of the West?of the West?Global perspective – The West Global perspective – The West borrows ideas from Asia thanks to:borrows ideas from Asia thanks to:

Mongols who open trade routes but Mongols who open trade routes but doesn’t destroy Western Europe.doesn’t destroy Western Europe.West wanted new technologies West wanted new technologies

because of constant warfare.because of constant warfare.West faces economic problem – West faces economic problem – how is it going to pay for all of the how is it going to pay for all of the

goods from Asia?goods from Asia?

How does one explain the rise of How does one explain the rise of the West?the West?West had to go through Muslim West had to go through Muslim merchants to get to Asia – merchants to get to Asia – Europeans didn’t want to do that – Europeans didn’t want to do that – wanted a way around them.wanted a way around them.Comparison – Europe and Africa Comparison – Europe and Africa are about equal during p.c. era.are about equal during p.c. era.1500’s – Euro. Population begins 1500’s – Euro. Population begins to expand (break out from Black to expand (break out from Black Death).Death).

Early Modern Period – Asian Early Modern Period – Asian merchants flourish – strong merchants flourish – strong production.production.Europeans desire a way to fix this Europeans desire a way to fix this balance of trade problem but don’t balance of trade problem but don’t really do so until 1845.really do so until 1845.