Note
Studied by 215 people
soaisls june exam
Cortes and the aztecs
Conquistadors were Spanish conquerors/explorers who sailed to the Americas to obtain gold, silver, and other treasures after Columbus's success.
Hernan Cortes:
Was intelligent, crafty, deceptive, ruthless, violent, and lucky.
Landed on the coast and made his way to Tenochtitlan (modern-day Mexico City) after hearing rumors of wealth in the Valley of Mexico.
Tenochtitlan & The Aztec Empire
Ruled by the highly advanced Aztec empire, known for being fierce warriors and practicing human sacrifices.
Aztec population was about 25 million, with roughly 350,000 living in Tenochtitlan.
Human sacrifices were made to keep the sun god Huitzilopochtli moving and preserve life, as well as for intimidation.
Guns and Germs
Cortes and his men unknowingly brought smallpox into Mexico, decimating the Aztec population.
Within a year, 3.5 million Aztecs died, and 80% of the Aztec population would eventually die due to war, slavery, disease, and famine.
Cortes became the first Governor of Mexico but died relatively forgotten in Spain.
Malinche and Quetzalcoatl
Aztec prophets had said that Quetzalcoatl, a white, bearded god, would come to take back the land.
Montezuma welcomed Cortes, offering jewels and gold, and was then taken prisoner.
Montezuma died during a skirmish; accounts differ on whether he was killed by the Spanish or his own people.
Fall of the Aztecs
A war broke out between the Aztecs and Spaniards; Cortes allied with rival Mexican tribes.
Cortes wore down the Aztecs in a bloody siege; roughly 240,000 Aztecs died.
Cortes burned Tenochtitlán, built a Catholic Church, and proclaimed it a Spanish possession.
Montezuma and the Aztecs
Montezuma was superstitious and awaited signs from the gods.
Cortes landed in Mexico in 1519 with roughly 500 men, 16 horses, and 14 cannons and burned his ships.
Cortes' advantages: guns, horses, disease, luck, and Malinche (translator).
Montezuma was impressionable and believed Cortes might be the “white god” Quetzalcoatl.
Guns, Germs, and Cortes
Cortes and his men introduced smallpox to Mexico.
The Aztecs had no immunity to smallpox.
Within a year, 3.5 million Aztecs died.
80% of the Aztec population eventually died from smallpox.
Within eighty years, roughly 20 million Aztecs died due to war, slavery, disease, and famine.
Cortes became the first Governor of Mexico.
He had wealth, titles, and land but few friends.
Cortes died in 1547 in Spain, relatively forgotten and living near poverty.
He requested his bones be buried in Mexico.
His bones were buried in Mexico, but the location of his first grave was hidden for over a century.
The Indian Ocean Trade
The Indian Ocean Trade began with small trading settlements around 800 A.D.
It declined in the 1500s when Portugal invaded to control the trade for its own profit.
Increased trade between Africa and Asia led to prosperous city-states along the eastern coast of Africa.
These city-states traded with inland kingdoms like Great Zimbabwe for gold, ivory, and iron.
These materials were exported to India, Southeast Asia, and China.
These items were scarce in Asian countries, allowing them to be sold at a profit.
East African city-states imported cotton, silk, and porcelain objects from Asia.
These items were expensive in Africa because they were not available there.
The city-states along the eastern coast of Africa were ideal trade centers.
Gold obtained from inland kingdoms was a major attraction, used for coins, art, ornamentation, and jewelry.
The city-states were easily accessible from Asia by ship due to favorable wind and ocean currents.
Excellent ports and harbors facilitated easy loading and unloading of cargo.
Merchants enjoyed lodging and entertainment in the port cities.
East Africa was a relatively peaceful region, with few and brief conflicts.
These factors created an ideal setting for import-export companies.
European countries were unaware of these famous city-states.
Main Trade Products and Shipping Routes of the Indian Ocean Region
China
From: Japan
To: Porcelain, Tea, Silk, Luxury products, Cloth, Precious metals
Japan
From:
To: Silk, Lacquer, Porcelain, Spices, Luxury products, Precious metals, Minted silver
Arabia
From:
To: Coffee, Spices, Silk
India & Bengal
From:
To: Cloth, Yarn, Silk, Indigo, Pepper, Silver bars
Europe
From:
To: Minted silver, Pepper
Sri Lanka
From:
To: Cinnamon, Cloth, Silver bars
Indonesia
From:
To: Pepper, Cloth, Nutmeg, Silver
Products:
Spices: Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Pepper, Cardamom, Cloves, Mace
Other: Elephants, Arecanuts, Sappanwood, Coffee, Gems, Sugar, Tea, Sappanwood, Ivory, Exotica
The Black Death (1347-1351)
Origin and Spread
In October 1347, twelve Genoese galley ships arrived in a port, carrying sailors afflicted with a mysterious disease. Symptoms included dark purple skin, swollen tongues, and arms.
Authorities ordered the ships to leave, but the disease had already spread to the city.
The disease, known as the Black Death, rapidly spread from Sicily to the rest of Europe.
The plague primarily affected fleas, which then transmitted it to rats.
Rats acted as carriers, spreading the disease through dirty towns and cities.
By 1348, the plague had reached Italy, Spain, England, and France.
In 1349, it spread to Austria, Holland, Hungary, Switzerland, and Germany.
By 1350, Scandinavia and the Baltic countries were affected.
Flagellants
Many people believed the plague was a punishment from God.
Flagellants emerged, believing that public penance would prevent infection.
These groups marched through the streets, singing hymns and praying.
Flagellants whipped themselves in public as an act of penance.
They also attacked Jews, accusing them of crucifying Christ and causing the plague.
In 1349, Pope Clement VI denounced the flagellants and ordered authorities to stop their processions.
Despite the Pope's orders, flagellants reappeared during each outbreak of the Black Death.
Failed Medical Treatments
European doctors, unfamiliar with the disease, tried various ineffective treatments.
Victims were advised to wash with vinegar and water and stay in bed.
Swellings were cut open in attempts to drain the disease.
Poultices made from tree resin and lily roots were applied to incisions.
Bloodletting was also practiced.
Special plague medicines were sold, such as mixtures of ground eggshells, marigold petals, and treacle boiled in ale.
Folk healers suggested drinking urine and holding a live hen against the swellings, hoping to transfer the disease to the bird.
None of these treatments worked, and most victims died within three days.
Societal Impact
Entire towns and villages were decimated.
Normal life in the cities ceased.
Authority collapsed as priests, judges, and community leaders died or fled.
Criminals were released from jail due to the lack of guards.
The dead were buried in mass pits by farmers and former prisoners.
Population Impact
Between 1348 and 1351, the plague killed approximately 25 million people in Europe, which was about one-fourth of the population.
In despair, many turned to God for help.
Widows became nuns.
The plague remained a recurrent fear until the 17th century, with five more outbreaks by 1400.
Bocaccio's Account
Bocaccio, an Italian author, described the plague's effects in his book The Decameron.
He wrote a vivid scene with an example of pigs dying after interacting with infected rags. The excerpt describes how two pigs found rags of a poor man. They pressed their snouts into the rags, picked them up with their teeth, and shook them against their cheeks. Shortly after, the pigs began to convulse and died on the ground next to the rags.
The Black Death (1347-1351)
By 1300, Europeans had cultivated almost all available land.
Climate changes led to three years of crop failures (1315-1317) due to excessive rain.
As many as 15% of peasants in some English villages died.
Starvation and poverty resulted in weakened immunity to disease.
Identifying the Sick
Visual cues from the Toggenburg Bible indicate sickness through the presence of buboes and individuals being bedridden instead of working.
Transmission of the Plague
Dirty lances could spread the plague and cause infection.
The plague is caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis.
Disease Cycle Stages:
Flea drinks rat blood containing the bacteria.
Bacteria multiply in the flea's gut.
Flea's gut becomes clogged with bacteria.
Flea bites a human and regurgitates blood into the wound.
Human becomes infected.
Transmission occurs through infected flea bites, direct contact with infected tissue, or inhalation of infected respiratory droplets.
Obsession with Death
People were obsessed with death due to its prevalence in daily life.
Religion was affected as people questioned their faith and felt abandoned by God, leading to decreased church attendance.
Comparison of Farming Communities and Crowded Cities
Farming communities had less disease spread compared to crowded cities.
Poland's Response
The Polish king quarantined the area and required newcomers to be isolated for three days before entry.
Sick individuals were expected to die within three days.
Poland had a superstition against killing cats, which may have contributed to fewer plague cases, despite some historians disputing this claim since cats can contract the plague.
Symptoms and Mortality
Symptoms of the plague:
Red, bulging eyes
Hallucinations
Face turning black
Sneezing
Thirst
Dizziness
Mortality rate: 35%-70% of the population in most countries, resulting in 25-50 million deaths.
Political, Economic, and Social Effects
The Counter Reformation
Key Events and Figures
In 1520, Pope Leo X excommunicated Martin Luther from the Catholic Church.
Some kings attempted to suppress Luther's writings.
Lutheran Princes in Germany issued a protestatio or protest to support Luther; hence the term "Protestant."
The Catholic Church convened the Council of Trent (1545-1563), a series of meetings between bishops and the Pope, to discuss Protestantism.
Council of Trent Outcomes
The Council confirmed the Catholic Church's beliefs and actions.
It stated that only the Church could interpret the Bible.
All 7 sacraments were officially named.
It was noted that Jesus is 100% present in the Eucharist (a belief Luther didn't share).
Indulgences and the Inquisition
Indulgences (pardons for sins) were still sold, but profiting from them was considered a sin. Indulgences were later outlawed by the next Pope.
For hundreds of years, the Church used the Inquisition, a court system, to suppress heresy.
The Inquisition gained increased power to question, torture, and kill "enemies of the Church."
Wars and Tensions
The Reformation led to violent wars and tension between Catholics and Protestants.
St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre
The St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre occurred in August 1572.
French Protestants were targeted by violent Catholic mobs in Paris.
The French King's sister (a Catholic) was set to marry a Protestant prince, attracting many wealthy and high-ranking Protestants to the city for the wedding.
This "mini war" lasted for weeks and also spread to other areas of France.
Casualties
Estimates suggest that between 5,000 and 30,000 Protestants were killed during the massacre.
Exploration and Beyond
North America
North America is named after the Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci.
Circumnavigation
"Circumnavigate" means to sail or travel all the way around something, especially the world.
Cape of Good Hope
The first European explorer to sail west to east around the Cape of Good Hope was Bartolomeu Dias in 1488.
He was from Portugal.
The Cape of Good Hope is located at the southern tip of Africa, specifically in the Western Cape Province of South Africa, on the Cape Peninsula.
HMS Terror
The crew of the ship HMS Terror perished during Sir John Franklin's Arctic expedition between 1845 and 1848.
They were trapped in ice and then abandoned the ship.
The crew attempted to walk across King William Island but all died of starvation, scurvy, and other hardships.
Their captain was Sir John Franklin.
They were trying to navigate and map the Northwest Passage through the Arctic.
Early Explorers
Hernán Cortés visited both Cuba and Mexico during his expeditions.
New Technology and Navigation
New technology helped Renaissance explorers go farther than previous sailors.
Astrolabe: Determined latitude by measuring the altitude of the sun or stars; also used to tell time and make astrological predictions.
Compass: Shows directions, primarily north, and is used for orientation and navigation.
Caravel: A light, fast, and highly maneuverable ship that could carry more cargo and trading goods; it was faster and more durable than other sailing ships.
Scurvy
Many sailors on long sea voyages got scurvy.
Cause: Caused by a deficiency of vitamin C from lack of fresh food.
Physical Symptoms: Bleeding gums, loose teeth, skin hemorrhages, poor wound healing, and fatigue.
Prevention: Sailors could prevent scurvy by consuming foods containing vitamin C, such as limes or lemons.
The Reformation
Overview
The Reformation was a massive revolution in the Catholic Church in Europe during the 1400s and 1500s.
Many people broke away from the Roman Catholic Church and formed their own new churches to protest what was happening.
Issues within the Church
Taxes: The Church collected taxes whenever it wanted, seemingly not caring if people could pay.
Church Scandals: Many popes and priests were having illegitimate children.
Simony: The Church would sell church positions, and the person would collect wages even if they didn't perform the job.
Nepotism: The practice of giving jobs to relatives instead of qualified people was common.
Indulgences: Paying a priest to forgive sins.
Predestination vs. Free Will
Predestination: The belief that the fate of everyone's soul was decided long ago by God.
Free Will: The belief that man's fate is not decided and that he has the power to choose.
Martin Luther
The man who started the Reformation.
Wrote the Ninety-Five Theses, a list of 95 arguments against Church practices.
On October 13, 1517, he nailed this list to a church door in Wittenberg, Germany.
Luther believed in predestination and that faith in God was enough to admit one to heaven, and that obeying and paying the Church didn't matter.
Protestantism grew from this.
Bible Translation and Protestantism
Because of the idea of a personal relationship with God, people like Luther wanted the Bible translated into everyday languages (it was in Latin) so that people could read it and not have to rely on priests for an interpretation.
The printing press made this possible.
These new ideas made being able to read important if one wanted to reach heaven, making education important to everyone.
Protestantism spread quickly.
Since the different Protestant groups had no official church, they interpreted the Bible the way they wanted to, creating many very different churches in Europe.
The Catholic Church's Response
The Counter-Reformation.
The Age of Printing
Before printing, books were copied by hand, a slow, expensive process that led to variations and errors.
The Chinese had used carved wooden blocks for printing, but the concept of movable type was revolutionary.
In the mid-15th century, Johannes Gutenberg introduced movable print in Europe.
Metal letters were arranged in trays, inked, and pressed onto paper, allowing for mass production.
Although setting up a book like the Bible required around 50,000 pieces of type, it could then be reproduced thousands of times.
Paper, made cheaply from linen rags, replaced expensive parchment.
This combination of printing and cheaper paper enabled the mass production of affordable books for the first time.
Printing had dramatic effects:
Reliable maps for explorers.
Musicians could reproduce their work.
Scholars could spread new ideas.
The Reformation was enabled by ordinary people being able to buy and read the Bible.
William Caxton published the first book in English in 1474 in Bruges, Belgium.
He later set up a press in Westminster and printed over 90 titles, including Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.
The printed word became a powerful force in history.
Scientific Revolution
New ways of thinking led to the Scientific Revolution.
Some Middle Ages scholars sought answers about the natural world from the Church, but in the mid-1500s, some began new ways of thinking.
Old View:
Scholars relied on traditional authorities for beliefs about the universe.
Geocentric Theory (Aristotle): Earth is the center of the universe; the sun, moon, and planets revolve around it.
The Church accepted and upheld these ideas.
Scientific Revolution:
A new way of thinking that involved posing theories and developing procedures to test ideas.
Fueled by exploration, which exposed people to new lands, people, and animals.
Discoveries in Astronomy, Physics, and Math
Galileo Galilei:
Italian scientist who built the first telescope used for astronomy.
Began scanning the heavens in 1609.
Described discoveries like craters on the moon and sunspots.
Discovered Saturn and the moons of Jupiter.
Observed that the Milky Way is made up of stars.
Isaac Newton:
English scientist.
Brought together astronomy, physics, and math.
Wondered about gravity and developed calculus.
Science and Society
As science gained significance, the role of the Roman Catholic Church became important.
The Church opposed many scientists' views but benefited from new discoveries that made Renaissance art and architecture possible.
Conflicts arose because the Church explained the world through inspiration and revealed truth, while science explained it through logical reasoning.
Galileo's Theories:
Brought him into conflict with the Church.
Church leaders pressured him not to support Copernicus' ideas.
Pope Urban VII ordered Galileo to Rome to stand trial before the Inquisition.
The Church wanted to stamp out heresy.
Trial held in April 1633.
Galileo stated he would not use Copernican theory in his work and received a lenient sentence.
The Pope ordered Galileo under house arrest, where he remained until his death in 1642.
Dawn of Modern Science
Ancient scholars could not provide information about new lands, people, and animals.
The Age of Exploration led scientists to study the natural world more closely.
Navigators needed more accurate instruments and geographic knowledge.
Scientists examined the natural world and found it didn't match ancient beliefs.
Discoveries in Astronomy, Physics, and Math
Nicolaus Copernicus:
Polish astronomer.
Found that the geocentric theory was inaccurate.
Concluded that the sun, not the earth, is near the center of the solar system (Heliocentric Theory).
Copernicus' Theory:
The idea of the earth orbiting the sun was not completely new.
Copernicus developed a detailed mathematical explanation.
Was the first scientist to create a complete model of the Solar System.
Published "On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres."
Knew the church would oppose his work because it contradicted the geocentric teachings of the church.
Johan Kepler's Solution
Kepler solved the main problem of Copernican theory.
Copernicus assumed planets orbited in a circle, which Kepler found untrue.
Kepler proved that planets orbited in an oval pattern, an ellipse, proving the Heliocentric theory.
Florence was controlled by Albizzi and Pazzi families
The Albizzi family lead costly wars so the people of Florence switched allegiances to the Medici family
The Pazzi family were wealthy bankers that were in a semi-friendly competition with the Medici family.
Giovanni de Medici
First of the famous ruling Medici's and considered founder of Medici family fortune
Giovanni died in 1429 and his son Cosimo became head of the Medici family
1438 Florence was controlled by the Albizzi and Pazzi families until about
Cosimo was arrested in Florence on charges of plotting to overthrow the government and imprisoned in a tiny dungeon.
While in jail, Cosimo quietly bribed enough members of the local government to reduce his prison sentence to a banishment for five years.
Cosimo de Medici
Cosimo went to Padua and then Venice, where he was welcomed along with his money.
He took his bank with him, which severely affected Florence's economy.
Due to the economic impact, Cosimo's banishment was canceled, and he returned to Florence in 1434.
He banished his opponents and ensured they never returned to Florence.
Lorenzo de Medici
Grandson of Cosimo, known as Lorenzo the Magnificent.
Considered the most brilliant of the Medicis.
Considered the greatest patron of the arts.
Commissioned artists and musicians like Michelangelo, Botticelli, and Verrocchio.
Reasons for patronage: genuine interest, family tradition, and political motives.
Pazzi Family
The Medici family had a rivalry with the Pazzi Family.
April 26, 1478: The Pazzi family attempted to assassinate Lorenzo and his brother during mass at the Cathedral of Florence.
The goal was to end the Medici's reign and influence.
Giuliano was killed, but Lorenzo defended himself and escaped with minor wounds.
Conspirators tried to gain control of the government, but the people of Florence rallied behind the Medici.
Conspirators, including the Archbishop of Pisa (an ally of the Pazzi family), were killed.
Surviving Pazzi family members were banished, their property was confiscated, their coat of arms was suppressed, and streets with the Pazzi name were renamed.
End of the Medici Dynasty
The last Medici ruler died without a male heir in Florence in 1737.
This ended the family dynasty after almost 3 centuries.
The Medici family produced 4 popes: Leo X, Clement VII, Pius IV, and Leo XI.
Their genes have been mixed into many European royal families.
Medici's First Major Fall From Power
Girolamo Savonarola, a preacher, settled in Florence in 1489.
He attacked the Medici family's tyranny in his sermons.
When Charles VIII of France invaded Italy in 1494, the Medici's lost power until around 1512.
Savonarola encouraged "bonfires of vanities" in February 1497.
These involved burning objects considered sinful by religious authorities.
Items burned: mirrors, cosmetics, art, expensive clothing, jewelry, books.
Savonarola took control of the government, imposing rigid religious control.
Eventually, Savonarola's followers turned on him, and he was burned alive.
The Medici Family
Were one of the wealthiest families in history.
Many members were corrupt, violent, and accustomed to getting their way.
They made many enemies, and the family was eventually exiled from Florence.
The Renaissance
Definition: Rebirth.
Rebirth of culture, art, science, ideas, and learning.
Began in the 1300s and ended in the 1700s.
What Brought About the Renaissance?
The Black Plague and the Crusades.
The Black Death:
Europe experienced a massive decline in population.
Labor became hard to find.
Towns and many serfs were freed from feudal obligations.
The Church's influence declined.
Disrupted the pattern of trade.
Economic Effects of the Crusades:
Increased demand for Middle Eastern products.
Stimulated production of goods to trade in Middle Eastern markets.
Encouraged the use of credit and banking.
Important Economic Concepts
Church rule against Usury (charging interest) helped to secularize northern Italy.
Letters of credit served to expand the supply of money and speed up trade.
New accounting and bookkeeping practices (use of Arabic numbers) were introduced.
Social History During the Renaissance
Rise of towns and market economies.
Trade and travel due to Crusades.
New information and rebirth of old information.
Failure of the old Feudal System.
New nation states with powerful kings.
Exploration of new parts of the world.
New power of the middle class.
Many of these influences came together in the powerful and wealthy city-states of Italy.
The combination of these new ideas is called the RENAISSANCE (rebirth).
It was the rebirth of the old CLASSIC information, Greek and Roman learning, plus new culture-that led to the spirit of RENAISSANCE.
The Spirit of the Renaissance
Characterized by:
Individuality
Independence
Inquiry/curiosity/wanting to learn
Sciences
Art/Architecture/music
Secularism
Humanism
Wealth
Civic Responsibility
These values and talents when found in an individual were highly valued - these people were called Renaissance men.
Humanism
The study of humans and humanity.
Celebrated the individual.
Stimulated the study of Greek and Roman literature and culture.
Was supported by wealthy patrons.
During the Renaissance, people turned away from religion.
Celebrates the here and now.
People still believe in God; religion just isn't everything.
Don't wait for the afterlife.
Crusades and Muslims
New Farming and Animals
Windmills
Mules
Donkeys
Arab horses
New Goods from the East
Cotton, silk
Figs, plums, apricots, melons, dates, oils
Spices
Perfumes
Knowledge and Ideas from the East
Arabic numbers
Decimals
Geometry
Algebra
Medicine
Military Tactics
Biology
Astronomy
Philosophy
The Crusades
Definition: A long series of wars fought between Christians and Muslims for control of Jerusalem (the Holy Land).
Meaning of Crusade:
Comes from the Latin word "crux," meaning "cross."
To go on a crusade = fighting for Christ.
Objectives of the Crusades:
Stop the expansion of Muslim states.
Reclaim the Holy Land for Christianity.
Recapture territories that had formerly been Christian.
Classes Involved:
Feudal Lords
Knights
Peasants
Everyone
Call to Arms:
Pope Urban II called for the defeat of the Muslims on November 27, 1095, to return the Holy Land to Christians.
People passionately joined the cause.
Reasons for Fighting (According to Urban II):
Urban appealed to the knights' religious convictions.
Muslim Turks were robbing pilgrims and torturing Christians journeying to the Holy Land.
The war offered knights a chance for glory and wealth.
What Urban II Wanted:
Re-establish safe access to the holy city of Jerusalem for Christian pilgrims.
Bring an end to ongoing feudal warfare between Christians in Europe by turning them against the Muslims (a common enemy).
Increase the power and prestige of the Roman Catholic Church and solidify the power of the Pope as the leader of all Christians.
Causes of the Crusades:
Muslim Turks captured Jerusalem from the Byzantine Empire.
Muslims stopped Christians from visiting the Holy Land.
Pilgrims were attacked.
The Byzantine Empire feared an attack on Constantinople (an important city of trade in Turkey near Jerusalem).
About the Muslims
Muhammad (their founder) was born in the city of Mecca in 570 CE.
He founded a great religion, and his followers were called Muslims. Some were warlike.
Captured much of the land around the Mediterranean Sea.
In 637 CE, the Muslims captured the city of Jerusalem.
For a long time, the Muslims allowed Christians to visit Jerusalem on pilgrimages.
In 1071, a group of Turkish Muslims captured Jerusalem and began to ill-treat Christians.
The First Crusade (1096-1099)
Peasant Troops:
Were untrained and lacked military equipment.
Many were killed by Muslim Turks.
Around 30,000 fought.
Knights:
Were more successful and succeeded in capturing Jerusalem.
Around 10,000 fought.
Duration: Lasted 3 years.
Result:
Christians took Jerusalem in 1099.
They held the city for the next 87 years.
Crusaders set up feudal states.
The Second Crusade (1147-1149)
Why: Crusader band blocking Muslims on pilgrimages to Mecca.
Location: Palestine, Edessa, Tripoli.
Duration: Lasted 2 years.
Some Crusaders went back to Europe, and some stayed.
European Countries Involved: King of France & Emperor of Germany sent troops.
Muslim Leader: Saladin (King of Egypt & Syria) attacked and took back some of the old territory.
The Third Crusade (1189-1192)
Led by King Richard the Lionheart of England against Saladin.
Eventually, both sides came to a truce.
The Muslims would maintain their land and allow Christians to enter Jerusalem unharmed.
The Fourth Crusade (1202-1204)
Merchants in Venice wanted to financially hurt the merchants in Constantinople due to rivalry over trade.
Crusaders were persuaded by Venetian merchants to attack Constantinople.
The war never made it to Jerusalem.
The 4th Crusade was motivated by greed rather than religion and hurt the image of the Catholic Church.
Later Crusades
Altogether, there were 7 Crusades between 1096-1254.
There were no later victories for the Christians.
There was even a Children's Crusade of 30,000 soldiers (many under 12 years old).
They never made it to the Holy Land.
The majority starved to death, died of diseases, or were sold into slavery.
The Silk Routes
The Silk Road was an ancient network of trade routes established during the Han Dynasty of China (130 BCE-1453 CE).
The term 'Silk Routes' is favored due to the network not being a single thoroughfare.
Goods Traded from West to East
Horses
Saddles and Riding Tack
The grapevine and grapes
Dogs and other animals (exotic and domestic)
Animal furs and skins
Honey
Fruits
Glassware
Woolen blankets, rugs, carpets
Textiles (such as curtains)
Gold and Silver
Camels
Slaves
Weapons and armor
Goods Traded from East (China) to West
Silk
Tea
Dyes
Precious Stones
China (plates, bowls, cups, vases)
Porcelain
Spices (such as cinnamon and ginger)
Bronze and gold artifacts
Medicine
Perfumes
Ivory
Rice
Paper
Gunpowder
Decline of the Silk Road and the Age of Discovery
Trade along the Silk Road declined, leading to the Age of Discovery (1453-1660 CE).
European explorers sought new water routes to replace overland trade.
The Age of Discovery impacted cultures globally as European ships claimed lands and demonstrated the efficiency of water trade routes.