APWORLD UNIT 4

What was the main theme of social interactions and organization between 1450-1750?

Changing social structures.

What were the two extremes of responses to ethnic diversity during this period?

Expulsion and relative tolerance.

What action did Spain take against Jews in 1492?

Spain issued a decree expelling all Jews from their kingdom.

Why did Spain expel Jews after the Reconquista?

They feared that converted Jews would influence remaining Jews to renounce Christianity.

What was the response of the Ottoman Empire to the Jewish expulsion from Spain?

Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II opened his empire to the displaced Jews.

What was the status of Jews in the Ottoman Empire?

Jews were required to pay the jizya tax and were not granted full equality.

What was the Qing Dynasty's approach to ethnic diversity?

The Qing Dynasty established a sharp division between ethnic Manchu and Han people.

What was the significance of the hairstyle imposed on Han men by the Manchu?

It was a constant reminder of their foreign domination and a source of humiliation.

How did Akbar the Great respond to ethnic and religious minorities in the Mughal Empire?

He extended profound tolerance and funded the construction of churches, temples, and mosques.

What was the Casta System in the Americas?

A social hierarchy based on race and heredity established by Spanish conquistadors.

Who were the Peninsulares in the Casta System?

Individuals born on the Iberian Peninsula, situated at the top of the social hierarchy.

What were Creoles in the context of the Casta System?

People of European descent born in the New World.

What groups were included in the castas of the Casta System?

Mestizos (European and indigenous ancestry), Mulattoes (European and African ancestry), Zambos (African and indigenous ancestry).

What was the impact of the Casta System on native peoples?

Native peoples were erased from the social hierarchy and cultural complexity was reduced.

What challenges did existing elites face during this period?

They struggled to maintain their power amidst the rise of new elites.

What measures did Peter the Great take against the boyars in Russia?

He curtailed their power, abolished their rank, and required them to serve the state directly.

What were timars in the Ottoman Empire?

Land grants made to an aristocratic class for service to the government.

How did the Ottoman sultans change the management of timars by the 16th century?

They began taking over timars and converting them to tax farms, directing revenue to the state.

What was the outcome for existing elites in the Ottoman Empire as a result of these changes?

They became powerless and landless.

What does relative tolerance mean in the context of the Ottoman Empire's treatment of Jews?

It indicates that while Jews were accepted, they did not enjoy full equality.

What was the primary reason for the expulsion of Jews from Portugal?

A new alliance with the Spanish crown led to similar treatment of Jews in Portugal.

What role did the economic and political power of maritime ventures play in social hierarchies?

They led to the rise of new political elites and social opportunities.

What was the significance of the jizya tax in the Ottoman Empire?

It was a tax imposed on non-Muslims, including Jews, as a form of discrimination.

What was the cultural impact of the Casta System on the Americas?

It imposed a rigid social order that erased the cultural complexity of native groups.

How did the Qing Dynasty's rulers adopt Chinese culture?

They adopted certain trappings of traditional Chinese culture, such as Confucian principles.

What was the overall effect of the changing social hierarchies from 1450-1750?

Social categories, roles, and practices evolved, reflecting both oppression and tolerance.

What economic system dominated Europe from 1450 to 1750?

Mercantilism.

How did rulers use economic strategies to consolidate power during the maritime empire era?

They employed mercantilism to maintain a favorable balance of trade, focusing on accumulating wealth through exports exceeding imports.

What is the definition of mercantilism?

An economic system that emphasizes the buildup of wealth by maintaining a favorable balance of trade.

What was the goal of mercantilist economies regarding wealth?

To acquire the largest possible share of the world's wealth, viewed as a limited resource.

What does a favorable balance of trade mean in a mercantilist economy?

It means exporting more goods than importing.

What happens to gold and silver in a mercantilist economy when importing goods?

Gold and silver flow out of the country as imports increase.

What is a joint-stock company?

A limited liability business chartered by the state and funded by a group of investors.

What does 'limited liability' mean for investors in a joint-stock company?

Investors can only lose the money they invested in the business.

How were joint-stock companies significant to empire building?

They allowed for private funding of businesses, which facilitated trade and expansion without direct state funding.

What role did the state play in the establishment of joint-stock companies?

The state chartered these companies, granting them trade monopolies in various regions.

What was the relationship between merchants and the state in the context of mercantilism?

Merchants relied on the state for protection and monopolies, while the state used merchants to expand its influence.

What was the impact of establishing colonies on mercantilist economies?

Colonies created a closed market for the imperial parent country, increasing demand for exports.

Why was competition significant in mercantilist economies?

Competition for limited resources (gold and silver) drove nations to expand their empires.

What was the primary motivation behind mercantilism?

To maximize the accumulation of wealth through trade.

How did mercantilism contribute to the development of maritime empires?

It provided economic incentives for exploration, colonization, and the establishment of trade routes.

What was the effect of mercantilism on trade relationships between empires and their colonies?

It created a dependency where colonies were required to purchase goods exclusively from their parent country.

What is the significance of the term 'closed market' in relation to colonies?

It refers to the restriction of trade to only the parent country, limiting competition.

How did mercantilism influence the economic strategies of maritime empires?

It drove them to establish trade monopolies and control resources in their colonies.

What were the two main economic strategies for empire building discussed?

Maintaining a favorable balance of trade and establishing joint-stock companies.

What was the role of government in joint-stock companies?

Governments chartered these companies and granted them monopolies, supporting their trade activities.

How did the concept of wealth as a 'pie' relate to mercantilism?

It illustrated the competition among nations to secure the largest share of limited resources.

What was the mutual interdependence between the state and merchants in mercantilist economies?

The state relied on merchants for expansion, while merchants depended on the state for protection and trade monopolies.

What role did joint-stock companies play during the period of empire building?

They became the main tool for trade and mutual arrangements that led to the expansion of empires.

What was the Dutch East India Company, and when was it chartered?

It was a joint-stock company chartered in 1602 by the Dutch state, granted a monopoly on trade in the Indian Ocean.

How did the Dutch East India Company impact investors and the Dutch imperial government?

Investors became exceedingly rich, and the Dutch imperial government expanded its influence and power across many places in the Indian Ocean.

Which other countries developed joint-stock companies for trade and imperial expansion?

The French and British also developed joint-stock companies for similar purposes.

What conflict arose due to the rivalry among joint-stock companies?

The Anglo-Dutch War occurred as a result of competition over trade and imperial expansion.

How did Spain and Portugal differ in their approach to trade and imperial ventures compared to the Dutch, French, and British?

Spain and Portugal mainly funded their trade and imperial ventures through state resources, leading to a waning influence on the world stage.

What was the Atlantic System, and what did it involve?

The Atlantic System was a network of trade that involved the movement of goods, wealth, and laborers between the eastern and western hemispheres.

What significant event initiated the Atlantic System?

The network was established after Christopher Columbus sailed west on behalf of Spain.

What was the primary good exchanged in the Atlantic trade, especially from Caribbean plantations?

Sugar was of special importance in the trade, particularly from Caribbean sugarcane plantations.

How did the demand for sugar change during this period?

The abundance of sugar led to a decrease in prices and an increased demand for sugar in Europe.

What was the significance of silver in the Atlantic trade?

Silver was king in terms of wealth transfer, heavily exploited by the Spanish from mines in Bolivia and other colonies.

How did silver impact the Spanish economy and trade with Asia?

Silver was used to purchase goods from Asia, satisfying growing demand in China and further developing the Spanish economy.

What types of goods were traded from Asia to the Atlantic system?

Goods included porcelain and silk, which were then traded across the Atlantic.

What forms of labor were primarily used in the Atlantic economy?

Labor was often coerced, including forced labor of indigenous people, indentured servants, and enslaved Africans.

What was the main labor source for supporting the Atlantic economy?

Nearly all imperial powers ended up relying on enslaved Africans to do the work required.

What was the impact of sugar plantations in the Caribbean on European markets?

The increase in sugar production led to a decrease in prices and a surge in demand in Europe.

What was the two-fold effect of the silver trade on the Spanish economy?

It satisfied the demand for silver in China and helped develop the commercialization of the Spanish economy.

What was the primary reason for the waning influence of Spain and Portugal during this period?

Their reliance on state funding for trade and imperial ventures limited their competitiveness against joint-stock companies.

What was the relationship between the Atlantic System and coerced labor?

The Atlantic System relied heavily on coerced labor, particularly enslaved Africans, to support its economy.

What were the three forms of coerced labor mentioned?

The three forms were forced labor of indigenous people, indentured servants, and enslaved Africans.

What was the significance of the sugar economy in the context of the Atlantic System?

The sugar economy was crucial for generating profits and driving demand in European markets.

What was the effect of the Atlantic trade on the profitability of participating countries?

The Atlantic trade resulted in increased profits for countries involved in the trade networks.

What were the primary commodities that facilitated the establishment of global monopolies during the maritime empires?

The flow of silver and trade.

What type of companies were often granted charters by heads of state in the European Atlantic system?

Joint-stock companies.

What was a significant aspect of continuity in trade networks during the period of maritime empires?

Regional markets across Afro-Eurasia continued to flourish and increase their reach.

How did European dominance affect the Indian Ocean trade network?

European naval merchants dominated the network, but various traders from the Middle East to Southeast Asia continued to trade and benefit from increased merchant traffic.

Which overland routes remained controlled by land-based powers during the maritime empire period?

The Silk Roads.

What types of labor continued and intensified during the maritime empire period?

Peasant and artisan labor.

What is the primary role of subsistence farmers?

To grow only what they needed to survive.

How did the demand for goods affect peasant farmers in South Asia?

Peasant farmers increased their production of agricultural goods for distant markets, such as cotton.

What was the impact of increased European demand on artisans?

Artisans increased their production of goods like silk and rugs.

What was one significant social effect of the African slave trade?

A gender imbalance, as the majority of enslaved laborers purchased were men.

How did the African slave trade affect family structures in West Africa?

It led to an increase in polygyny due to the depletion of the male population.

What was a cultural effect of the African slave trade in the Americas?

A cultural synthesis occurred, leading to the development of creole languages.

What does 'creole languages' refer to in the context of the African slave trade?

Languages developed as a synthesis of mixed European and African languages.

What was the primary agricultural product driving wealth in the Americas during the slave trade?

Sugarcane production.

What is the significance of the term 'polygyny' in the context of the social effects of the slave trade?

It refers to the practice of men marrying more than one woman, which increased due to the loss of men in West African states.

How quickly did enslaved Africans adopt new languages upon arriving in the Americas?

It took about a generation for them to cease speaking their own languages and adopt creole languages.

What was a major factor in the changing family structures in West Africa due to the slave trade?

The depletion of the male population.

What role did skilled artisans play in the context of increased European demand?

They produced goods by hand, such as silk and clothing.

What was the overall impact of increased global trade connections on peasant farmers?

They began producing more agricultural goods for export markets.

What is meant by 'social effects' in the context of maritime empires?

The profound changes in society, including gender imbalances and cultural shifts due to trade and slavery.

What was the relationship between the African slave trade and agricultural production in the Americas?

The slave trade provided labor for highly-intensive agriculture, which was crucial for wealth generation.

What does the term 'African Slave Trade' encompass in this context?

The forced transportation and enslavement of Africans for labor in the Americas.

How did the maritime empires affect trade networks globally?

They established and maintained trade networks that altered economic and social structures worldwide.

What are creole languages a synthesis of?

Creole languages are a synthesis of mixed European, African, and sometimes indigenous languages.

What was one major goal of Spanish and Portuguese empires in South America?

One major goal was to ensure that everyone in the world worshiped Jesus.

How did missionaries contribute to the spread of Christianity in the colonies?

Missionaries sent by Spanish and Portuguese empires used the church as an instrument to spread Christianity among indigenous peoples.

What role did the printing press play in the spread of ideas in colonial holdings?

The printing press made prodigious use of ideas, allowing them to spread rapidly throughout the colonies.

What was the response of colonial authorities when indigenous groups practiced their own beliefs privately?

Colonial authorities often met this with violent retaliation.

Who was Bartolome de las Casas and what did he advocate for?

Bartolome de las Casas was a Dominican priest who made efforts to protect indigenous Americans from abuses by colonial authorities.

What legislation resulted from Bartolome de las Casas's efforts?

His efforts led to the outlawing of the enslavement of Amerindians and limitations on the forms of coerced labor they could participate in.