12/6/2024

Global Divisions Around 1450

Historical Context

• Overview of political divisions, cultural differences, and economic systems.

• The impact of the Age of Exploration and the beginning of colonialism.

Political Developments

• Rise of powerful nation-states in Europe.

• The Islamic world experiencing significant cultural and scientific advancements.

• Consolidation of power in the Ming dynasty, China.

• Regional kingdoms in the Indian subcontinent.

Civilizations in the Americas

• Advanced civilizations such as the Aztecs and Incas.

• Complex social and political structures.

Interactions and Trade

• European nations seeking new trade routes and resources.

• Establishment of colonial empires that reshaped global dynamics.

Cultural Exchanges and Conflicts

• Encounter with diverse cultural practices and belief systems.

• Cooperation and conflict during colonization and resistance.

• The exchange of ideas, technologies, and goods influencing future civilizations.

Dominant Global Divisions in the 1900s

Social Classes

• Bourgeoisie: Owners of capital and means of production.

• Proletariat: Working class, laborers without ownership.

• Lumpenproletariat: Marginalized and irregular workers.

• Petite Bourgeoisie: Small business owners and self-employed individuals.

Key Concepts

• Proletarianization: Transition to working class status.

• Class Struggle: Conflict between proletariat and bourgeoisie.

Economic Disparities

• Food demand and access influencing class tensions.

• Rice trade with China impacting food availability and prices.

Religious Conflict

• Religious identity overshadowing race issues in alliances and conflicts.

• Silver Mountain: Site of conflict for control over silver mines.

Impact of Silver

• The quest for silver as a catalyst for global trade networks.