By 1750, the Ottoman Empire disrupted European trade routes, the Mughal Empire was weakening, Japan was isolating itself, and France was experiencing financial problems.
The world in 1750 was characterized by Eurasian states/empires, coastal African kingdoms, and European maritime empires. Japan remained isolated.
Interactions among these entities disrupted regional trade and shaped new global trade networks.
Key Themes and Concepts
Creation, Expansion, and Interaction of Economic Systems: Commercial activity's role in Ottoman and Mughal Empires.
Development, Movement, and Interaction of Cultures: How global kingdoms/empires were built; conditions favoring empire building.
Power, Authority, and Governance: Comparison of centralization in Tokugawa Japan and Bourbon France.
Key People and Terms
Write a sentence explaining the significance of each term and individual:
Constantinople: Captured by Ottomans in 1453, renamed Istanbul, became capital.
Qing: Dynasty that ruled China after the Manchus invaded.
Queue: Manchu hairstyle imposed on Chinese men.
Peter the Great: Russian czar, worked to modernize Russia.
Glorious Revolution: Bloodless overthrow in England, led to limited monarchy.
English Bill of Rights: Ensured Parliament's superiority over monarchy.
Conquistador: Spanish conquerors in the Americas.
Chapter 1 Empires in Hsia, Africa, Russia, and Europe
Trade and conquest interconnected people globally. By 1750, kings/emperors sought colonies, wealth, and power.
Ottoman Empire
1453: Ottomans captured Constantinople, overthrew Byzantine Empire, renamed city Istanbul.
Geographic Expansion: Expanded into Europe, Middle East, North Africa. Captured Mecca, lands along Nile River, Crimean Peninsula. By 1500s, largest empire in Middle East/Europe.
Military Technology: Cannons, muskets for foot soldiers increased battlefield effectiveness.
Suleiman's Golden Age: 16th century, strengthened government, improved justice based on Sharia law.
Diverse Society: Ruled diverse peoples/religions, Islam became dominant culture. Architecture/art blended Byzantine and Muslim cultures.
Millets: Religious communities maintained traditions, educated people, obeyed Ottoman law.
Janissaries: Recruited from conquered groups, converted to Islam, elite force in Ottoman army.
Decline of the Ottoman Empire
Internal Disunity: Nations broke free, government corruption, poor leadership.
European Search for New Trade Routes: Ottoman control disrupted European trade, prompting search for new routes.
Rising Power of European States: European commercial/military technology surpassed Ottomans. Commercial revolution in Europe, therefore, was a strong factor in the decline of the Ottoman Empire.
Mughal India
Founded by Babur, descendant of Genghis Khan, early 1500s to mid-1700s, ruled much of India.
Akbar the Great: Strengthened central government, modernized army, encouraged trade, land reforms, promoted religious tolerance.
Challenges Lead to Decline: Aurangzeb reversed religious tolerance, imposed Islamic law. Political rivalries rose, including Marathas, Sikhs. By mid-1700s, Marathas had power over much of northern and central India.
-Growth of European Power: European merchants built power. British/French East India Companies made alliances with local rulers, organized armies of sepoys (Indian troops).
Tokugawa Japan
Early society: Organized into clans, Yamato clan gained control, became royal family.
Selective Borrowing: Cultural diffusion, Japan chose aspects of culture from China and Korea to adapt to its own traditions.
Religion: Buddhism flourished alongside Shinto (worship of kami).
Confucianism: Family loyalty, honor of parents, respect for learning took root.
Writing System: Adapted Chinese system to suit Japanese language/ideas.
Feudal Japan: Emperor ruled in name, real power with shoguns (military commanders).
Bushido: Samurai code of conduct (loyalty, bravery, honor).
Tokugawa Shogunate: Brought peace/stability, unified society by controlling daimyo through "alternate attendance policy".
Bourbon France
By late 1600s, France replaced Spain as most powerful European nation. Kings increased royal power, reduced noble power.
Louis XIII/Richelieu subdued nobles/Huguenots.
- Louis XIV: Strengthened monarchy, divine right of kings (Bishop Jacques Bossuet's argument), expanded bureaucracy, built Versailles, organized army, persecuted Huguenots.