Recording-2025-02-06T09_00_57.458Z

Interactions Between Continents

• Rise of exploration continues, leading to the establishment of European colonies.

• Emergence of the African slave trade aligns with European explorations.

Overview of the Renaissance

• Dark Ages: European turmoil characterized by plague and political authority of the Roman Catholic Church.

• Renaissance: Term meaning 'rebirth', marking revival in art, science, and philosophy, lasting from the 1400s to 1600s.

• Key figures like Leonardo da Vinci:

  • Renowned for his paintings such as the Last Supper.

  • A pioneer in scientific concepts around flight and human anatomy.

Major Effects of the Renaissance

• Joint Stock Companies:

  • Allowed investors to buy stocks and share potential profits, popularizing in the mid-1500s especially in England and The Netherlands.

  • Drove economic diversification away from reliance on the monarchy and the Catholic Church.

• Decline of Feudalism:

  • Escaping serfs gain independence and loyalty shifts from lords to themselves, leading to increased urbanization of the lower class.

• Population Growth in England:

  • Rapid population increase from 2.5 million in 1500 to over 5 million by 1620 due to stability and improvements in agriculture.

Social Response to Changes

• Class Tension:

  • Growth of a lower class without masters causes concern among the upper class about potential revolts.

• Religious Shifts:

  • Reconquista: The long process of expelling Moors (Muslims) from the Iberian Peninsula concluded in 1492.

  • Rise of antisemitism resulting from the Spanish Inquisition leading to forced conversions and executions of Jews.

Important Religious Transformations

• Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation:

  • Initiated in 1517 with the 95 Theses, protesting against Catholic practices like the sale of indulgences.

  • Key beliefs: objection to Church hierarchy, need for accessible scripture (translated the Bible into German).

• John Calvin:

  • Developed Calvinism, centered on predestination challenging Catholic doctrines about salvation through good works.

• Counter-Reformation:

  • Catholic Church's response to Protestantism aimed at reforming corruption but reaffirming traditional doctrines.

The English Reformation

• Henry VIII's Split:

  • Desired a male heir led him to break from the Catholic Church when denied a divorce by the Pope, establishing the Anglican Church.

  • His children (Edward VI, Mary I, Elizabeth I) led to turbulent shifts between Protestant and Catholic practices.

Emergence of the African Slave Trade

• Portuguese Initiation:

  • Initiated the African slave trade by exchanging gold for slaves, catalyzing West African kingdoms to enslave captured enemies.

  • Shift towards chattel slavery began, leading to dehumanization based on race.

Christopher Columbus and Spanish Exploration

• Discovery in 1492:

  • Funded by Spain, Columbus reached the Bahamas, mistaking it for Asia, and labeled natives as 'Indians'.

  • Engaged in detrimental practices toward Tainos, including kidnapping and enslavement.

• Colonization:

  • Columbus' treatment of Native Americans led to his eventual imprisonment due to misconduct.

  • Establishment of Spanish colonies from Hispaniola to Jamaica follows.

Hernan Cortés and the Aztec Conquest

• Conquest of the Aztecs:

  • Cortés arrives in 1519, utilizes native alliances and the smallpox epidemic to defeat the Aztec Empire.

  • Events leading to Tenochtitlan's downfall through a combination of violence and disease.

The Broader Impact of Native Americans in Europe

• Reasons for Native Travel to Europe:

  • Slavery, diplomacy, marriage, and exhibition.

  • Notable figures like Pacquineo served as intermediaries between cultures.

• Curiosity-driven engagements often reduced Native Americans to spectacles in European courts, raising ethical questions about their treatment.

Conclusion

• The transition to a more integrated global economy, driven by exploration, colonization, and the slave trade, connects the fates of continents and cultures in the modern era. The ongoing struggles of identity, power, and exploitation reluctantly emerged from this complex interplay of historical events.