World History Review

Emperor Kangxi returned China to isolationism, cutting off trade and contact with outsiders.
This policy was intended to protect China from foreign influence and maintain its cultural identity.
In 1644, the Manchu invasion of Beijing ended the Ming Dynasty, leading to the Qing Dynasty.
The Qing Dynasty was the last imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912.
New American crops like corn and potatoes led to a dramatic increase in the Chinese population.
These crops were highly productive and allowed for greater food security.

The introduction of new crops from the Americas, such as corn and potatoes, led to a significant increase in the Chinese population.
These crops had a higher yield and were more resistant to local diseases.
Population figures during different dynasties:
- Han Dynasty: 20-60 million
- Tang Dynasty: 50-80 million
- Song Dynasty: 100-123 million
- Yuan Dynasty: 60 million
- Ming Dynasty: 60 million
- Qing Dynasty: varied, with increases over time
During the Qing Dynasty, the population grew from approximately 150 million in 1700 to over 400 million in the 19th century.

Religious syncretism is the blending of religions.
It occurs when different religious beliefs and practices are combined or assimilated.
Zen Buddhism is an example, combining Shinto and Buddhism.
- Zen Buddhism emphasizes meditation and mindfulness, incorporating elements from both Shinto and Buddhism.

The feudal systems in Japan and Europe were similar.
Both systems were decentralized and based on land ownership and loyalty.
Both had powerful landowners who exchanged land for military service.
Lords and daimyo provided land and protection to vassals and samurai in exchange for military support.

Three powerful daimyo, known as the “Three Unifiers,” unified Japan and ended feudalism.
These leaders used military strength and strategic alliances to consolidate power.
- Oda Nobunaga
- Toyotomi Hideyoshi
- Tokugawa Ieyasu

Under Tokugawa Ieyasu, Japan had a policy of strict isolationism.
This policy was known as Sakoku, and it aimed to eliminate foreign influence and preserve Japanese culture.
Dutch ships were allowed to trade at Deshima in Nagasaki Bay.
The Dutch were allowed limited trade because they were primarily interested in commerce and did not attempt to spread Christianity.

From 1300 to 1700, three “Gunpowder Empires” dominated parts of Europe, Africa, and Asia:
These empires utilized gunpowder technology to expand their territories and establish dominance.
- The Ottoman Empire (Turkey)
- The Safavid Empire (Iran)
- The Mughal Empire (India)
These empires conquered neighboring people using strong armies with rifles and artillery.
Their military strength allowed them to build vast empires and control important trade routes.
All three empires were Islamic and ruled by Muslim leaders.
Islam played a central role in the political, social, and cultural life of these empires.

Ottoman rulers were called sultans and governed with absolute power.
Sultans controlled all aspects of government and were considered the supreme religious and political leaders.
Suleyman the Magnificent was the greatest Ottoman sultan, coming to power in 1520.
His reign was marked by significant territorial expansion, legal reforms, and cultural achievements.
Sultans maintained power by executing, blinding, or jailing rivals, leading to weaker leaders.
This practice of eliminating potential threats often resulted in less capable successors.
By World War I, the Ottoman Empire was weak and nicknamed the “Sick Man of Europe.”
Internal conflicts, economic problems, and external pressures contributed to the empire's decline.

Mughal leader Akbar created the Divine Faith, an example of syncretism, blending ideas from Islam, Hinduism, Christianity, and Zoroastrianism.
The Divine Faith, or Din-i-Ilahi, was intended to unite the diverse religious communities within the Mughal Empire.

Absolute monarchs believed in divine right: God created the monarchy, and kings answered only to God.
This belief gave monarchs unlimited authority and justified their absolute rule.
Absolute monarchs like Louis XIV of France and Peter the Great of Russia made all government decisions without the consent of their people.
These rulers centralized power and implemented policies without consulting representative bodies.

Peter the Great of Russia sought to modernize Russia through Westernization, adopting ideas and technologies from Europe.
- He implemented reforms to modernize the military, expand education, and promote economic development based on Western models.
Peter the Great built a new capital city, St. Petersburg, as a symbol of Russia's modernization and openness to the West.
- St. Petersburg was designed with European architectural styles and urban planning principles.

The Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment were overlapping movements that transformed Europe.
These movements emphasized reason, individualism, and human rights, challenging traditional beliefs and social norms.
The Scientific Revolution focused on understanding the natural world through observation and experimentation.
- Scientists like Isaac Newton and Galileo Galilei made groundbreaking discoveries that challenged established scientific theories.
The Enlightenment applied reason and logic to understand human society, politics, and ethics.
- Thinkers like John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau advocated for individual rights, democracy, and the separation of powers.

Some absolute monarchs adopted Enlightenment ideas and became known as “enlightened despots.”
These rulers implemented reforms to improve education, promote religious tolerance, and modernize their states.
- Frederick the Great of Prussia
- Catherine the Great of Russia
- Maria Theresa of Austria
These rulers believed that they could use their power to bring about positive social and political change, while still maintaining absolute control.

Enlightenment ideas inspired the French Revolution, which began in 1789.
The French Revolution sought to overthrow the absolute monarchy and establish a more democratic and egalitarian society.
Causes of the French Revolution included social inequality, economic problems, and political oppression.
The French Revolution was influenced by Enlightenment thinkers like Rousseau and Montesquieu, who advocated for popular sovereignty and the separation of powers.
The French Revolution led to the Reign of Terror, during which radical revolutionaries executed thousands of perceived enemies of the revolution.
The Reign of Terror was a period of extreme violence and political repression, as factions within the revolutionary government struggled for power.
Napoleon Bonaparte rose to power in the aftermath of the French Revolution, establishing himself as Emperor of France.
Napoleon implemented legal and administrative reforms, expanded French territory, and spread revolutionary ideas across Europe.

The French Revolution and Enlightenment ideas inspired revolutions in Latin America.
Colonial populations in Latin America sought to overthrow Spanish and Portuguese rule and establish independent nations.
Toussaint L’Ouverture led a revolution in Haiti, which became the first independent black republic in the world.
The Haitian Revolution demonstrated the power of enslaved people to fight for their freedom and inspired other independence movements in the Americas

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