humanities mar 26 pt 2

Historical Context of Europe during the Middle Ages

• Overview: Europe experienced a decline in art, science, and societal order during the Middle Ages (~500-1500 CE).

• Conditions: Life was characterized by violence, insecurity, and a lack of cultural sophistication.

• Timeline: Situation improved gradually leading into the High Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

Transformation in Europe post-Renaissance (~1500-1600)

• Catalysts for Change:

  • Industrial Revolution: Introduced new, efficient production methods and increased trade.

  • Navigational Advancements:

    • Early European powers (Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands, Britain, France) developed superior navigational technologies, giving them a competitive advantage in overseas expansion.

Eurocentric Ideology

• Civilizing Mission: Europeans viewed themselves as the bearers of civilization, believing that the societies they encountered were 'savage' and needed European guidance.

• Cultural Superiority: This perspective influenced their actions in colonization and trade.

Technological Innovations

• Key Inventions and Techniques:

  • Astrolabe: Allowed navigation in the Southern Hemisphere.

  • Stern Post Rudder: Improved ship maneuverability.

  • Lantine Sails: Captured wind from any direction effectively.

  • Portolani: Detailed maps with maritime information, crucial for navigation.

  • Lenses: Innovations in eyeglasses, microscopes, and telescopes.

  • Paper and Printing:

    • Modern paper and the printing press, credited to Chinese inventions, revolutionized literacy and information distribution.

The Gutenberg Revolution

• Impact of the Printing Press:

  • Invented by Johannes Gutenberg around 1440 in Germany, revolutionized access to information and literacy by producing books cheaply and rapidly.

  • Led to the democratization of education and challenged the Catholic Church's monopoly on knowledge.

Comparison to Modern Technology

• The Internet's Role:

  • Similarities to the Gutenberg revolution; it transformed access to knowledge and education dramatically for contemporary society.

  • Highlights the rapid changes in information dissemination and social interactions.

The Americas

• Definition of the New World:

  • Term used by Europeans to describe the Americas, known for their late discovery (1492 by Columbus).

• Pre-Columbian Societies:

  • Major civilizations like the Olmec, Toltec, Incas, Mayans, and Aztecs evolved independently with no outside influence from Europe, Asia, or Africa.

Exploration History

• European Discovery:

  • Columbus is often credited with discovering America in 1492, but Norse explorations occurred about 500 years earlier (e.g., Vikings in Newfoundland).

  • Speculations about Chinese expeditions under Zheng He in the early 1400s.

Motives for Exploration

• Three G's:

  • Gold: Economic profits from resources.

  • God: Religious motivations for conversion to Christianity.

  • Glory: National prestige and personal fame of explorers and conquistadors.

The Columbian Exchange

• Definition: The reciprocal transfer of goods, crops, and diseases between the Old World (Europe) and the New World (Americas).

• Agricultural Impact:

  • Introduction of crops like maize, beans, and potatoes transformed European agriculture.

  • Potatoes played a crucial role in the Irish population and migration to the Americas due to the famine caused by potato blight in the 1840s.

Significant Crops and Their Effects

• Tobacco: Economically pivotal for both the Caribbean and American colonies.

• Cotton: A vital cash crop that influenced American economic history, especially in the South.