Guided Reading Questions - Global Changes and Transoceanic Empires

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What effect did the European presence have on Latin American societies?

The European presence in Latin American societies led to significant social, political, and economic changes, including the establishment of colonial governments (like with Hernan Cortes’ creation of a primitive Mexican government) and the exploitation of resources, labor, and indigenous peoples.

How did [the Europeans] organize [Latin American societies]?

Most notably was the European ignorance of previously established Indigenous gender roles, which were transformed from a more egalitarian society to an unbalanced patriarchy, where Indigenous men often took on more laborious work in the form of coerced labor than women. Additionally, a complicated racial hierarchy developed, where the mixing of European ancestry into Indigenous societies contributed to the levels of social and racial superiority that individuals held. (for example, Europeans organized pure Indigenous people into the lowest category, and as more and more European ancestry was incorporated, the higher category an individual was considered)

What industries were important [to Europeans in Latin American societies]?

Key industries included mining (of silver in Potosi) and agriculture (plantations and ranches), which were often driven by European demand and local labor exploitation. These industries played crucial roles in the transatlantic economy, enriching European powers.

What effect did the European presence have on Africa, and how did various African peoples respond to their presence? 

The European presence in Africa led to significant disruptions in social structures, economies, and cultures. African peoples displayed various responses, ranging from resistance as seen in the Kingdom of Benin, which ended up closing itself off of European trade, or the adaption and collaboration of the slave trade, most well-identified in West Africa (Dahomey) where leaders that picked up straggling Africans would sell them to Europeans in exchange for textiles, cowrie shells, metal goods, firearms, gunpowder, etc.

How did the slave trade affect Africa?

The slave trade resulted in substantial demographic changes in Africa, and although it did not cause a direct decrease in population due to the introduction of nutritious foods into African societies, such as maize and cassava, from the Americas, it did lead to the destabilization of African communities.

How did Chinese philosophy influence the arts and how they organized themselves?

Chinese philosophy deeply influenced the arts by emphasizing harmony, balance, and nature, which were reflected in poetry, painting, and calligraphy. (like those really cool ink drawings) The hierarchy they established was also partially based on Chinese philosophy, as people with higher moral virtue and intelligence were considered to be of a higher class. (Confucianism)

Which [Chinese social] classes were considered more significant and why?

The ruling class and scholar-officials (you can think of it as the Japanese aristocracy during the Heian period) were considered more significant due to their educational achievements and political power, while artisans and peasants were viewed as lower in status.

How did Japan organize themselves socially?

Japan organized itself socially through a rigid caste system defined by social class, including the samurai, daimyo, peasants, and merchants, with the high aristocracy typically having much power in society. Unlike China, individuals were usually born into a class, unable to move freely throughout the caste system.

How did Japan respond to foreigners and what effect did this have on them?

Initially, Japan responded to foreigners with curiosity but later adopted isolationist policies during the Tokugawa Shogunate, especially due to European colonizers and missionaries who tried converting Japan to Catholicism, leading to limited interactions with other cultures (aside from a small Dutch site).

How did philosophy influence [Japanese] art?

Philosophy shaped Japan’s cultural development and art forms through emphasizing native styles and ideas such as Buddhism that valued simplicity and nature. (think of zen) As a result, many Japanese paintings were based off of the natural environment, such as with sakura trees, the ocean, or scenery.