Historical Perspectives and the World in 1500

This flashcard set covers historical methodologies (The Map vs. The Road) and key demographic statistics for world regions and cities in the year 1500 based on the lecture notes.

"The map" perspective

An approach to history that examines evidence and historical "forces" to understand how we got from the past to the present.

"The road" perspective

An approach to history that emphasizes empathy and imagination to understand how it "felt" in the past, focusing on imperfect decisions in contingent moments.

Contingent moments

Historical moments when the future is unknown and developments might occur in many different ways.

1492

Identified as a contingent moment that brought together Europe, the Americas, and Africa to create new worlds.

Henricus Hondius II

The creator of the $1630$ map titled "Nova Totivs Terrarvm Orbis Geographica ac Hydrographica Tabvla."

India population ($1500$)

Estimated at $110,000,000$ people.

China population ($1500$)

Estimated at $103,000,000$ people.

Western Europe population ($1500$)

Estimated at $57,200,000$ people.

Americas population ($1500$)

Estimated at $55,000,000$ people.

Beijing, China ($1500$)

The top world city by population in $1500$, with $672,000$ residents.

Vijayanagar, India ($1500$)

The second most populous world city in $1500$, with a population of $500,000$.

Cairo, Egypt ($1500$)

A major world city in $1500$ with a population of $400,000$.

Tenochtitlan, Aztec ($1500$)

A major city in the Americas with a population of $250,000$ in $1500$.

Paris, France ($1500$)

A leading European city in $1500$ with a population of $185,000$.

Sub-Saharan Africa population ($1500$)

Estimated at $38,300,000$ people.

Tabriz, Iran ($1500$)

A top world city in $1500$ with a population of $250,000$.

Constantinople, Turkey ($1500$)

A major world city with a population of $200,000$ in $1500$.