Chapter 16: Asian Transitions in an Age of Global Change

What significant achievement did Vasco da Gama accomplish in 1498?

He established a sea route from Europe to the Indian Ocean by sailing around Africa.

What assistance did the Portuguese receive upon their arrival in India?

The sultan of Malindi provided a pilot to guide them to India.

What were the Portuguese confronted with when they reached Calicut?

Local merchants showed little interest in their trade goods.

Why did the Portuguese realize they needed military force in the Indian Ocean trading system?

Due to the entrenched presence of Muslim traders and political connections.

How did the arrival of Europeans impact Asian states and empires?

The impact was limited, with most Asian states continuing to develop based on their internal dynamics.

Which dynasty rose in China during 1368?

Ming dynasty.

What were the key commodities traded in the Indian Ocean trading system?

Spices, fine textiles, silk, and precious stones.

What was the Portuguese strategy to control spice trade in Asia?

They aimed to monopolize trade by using military force against Muslim merchants.

What led to the decline of Portuguese power in Asia during the 1600s?

Challenges from the Dutch and British trading empires.

What major naval expeditions were conducted by the Ming dynasty during the early 1400s?

Zheng He's expeditions to Southeast Asia, India, and East Africa.

What characterized Japan's policies under the Tokugawa shogunate?

A movement towards self-imposed isolation and limiting foreign influence.

Why did Japan begin to isolate itself from foreign influences in the late 1580s?

Growing doubts about European intentions and perceived threats from missionaries.

What was unique about the conversion efforts of missionaries in India?

They were largely unsuccessful due to entrenched religious practices and beliefs.

What led to the Ming dynasty's decline by the late 1500s?

A centralized political structure that became a liability and widespread corruption.

Who led the initial overseas expeditions for the Ming dynasty between 1405 and 1433?

Admiral Zheng He.

What was the outcome of Hideyoshi's invasions of Korea?

Both invasions ultimately failed.

What event marked the end of the Ming dynasty in 1644?

Internal rebellion leading to the suicide of the last Ming emperor.

What role did Jesuit missionaries play in China during the Ming dynasty?

They attempted to convert the Chinese elite using scientific and technical knowledge.

What did the Dutch do to establish their dominance in the spice trade?

They captured strategic locations like Malacca and uprooted local spice cultivation.

In what way did the Tokugawa shogunate consolidate power in Japan?

By reorganizing the daimyo and ensuring loyalty through required attendance in Edo.