💣World History – 1400 to Present Unit 5 – Atlantic World Foundations

Key Events and Timeline

• The Age of Exploration began in the 15th century, marked by European voyages to the Americas, Africa, and Asia
• In 1492, Christopher Columbus reached the Americas, initiating the Columbian Exchange of crops, animals, and diseases between the Old and New Worlds
  • Other notable explorers include Vasco da Gama (reached India in 1498) and Ferdinand Magellan (first circumnavigation of the globe, 1519-1522)
• The Atlantic slave trade began in the 16th century, forcibly transporting millions of Africans to the Americas over the next three centuries
• European powers established colonies in the Americas, with the Spanish and Portuguese dominating Central and South America, while the English, French, and Dutch settled in North America
• The Scientific Revolution (16th-17th centuries) and the Enlightenment (18th century) transformed European thought and laid the foundation for modern science and political ideals
• The American Revolution (1765-1783) and the French Revolution (1789-1799) challenged traditional monarchies and promoted democratic principles
• The Industrial Revolution, beginning in the late 18th century, transformed economies and societies through mechanization and factory production

Major Civilizations and Empires

• The Ottoman Empire, a Muslim state, controlled much of the Middle East, North Africa, and southeastern Europe from the 14th to the early 20th centuries
• The Mughal Empire ruled much of the Indian subcontinent from the 16th to the 19th centuries, known for its cultural achievements and religious tolerance
• The Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1912) dynasties in China oversaw periods of stability, economic growth, and cultural flourishing
• The Aztec Empire dominated Mesoamerica until the Spanish conquest in the early 16th century, known for its advanced agriculture, architecture, and religious practices
• The Inca Empire, the largest pre-Columbian civilization in the Americas, ruled the Andean region until the Spanish conquest in the 1530s
• European powers, such as Spain, Portugal, England, France, and the Netherlands, established vast colonial empires across the Americas, Africa, and Asia
• The Russian Empire emerged as a major power in the 18th century, expanding across Eurasia and rivaling other European states

Exploration and Discovery

• Advances in navigation, cartography, and shipbuilding enabled European explorers to venture across the Atlantic and chart new trade routes
  • The magnetic compass, astrolabe, and quadrant improved maritime navigation
  • The caravel, a small, maneuverable ship, was well-suited for exploration
• The search for new trade routes to Asia, particularly for spices and luxury goods, motivated European exploration
• The Portuguese explored the west coast of Africa and established trading posts, eventually reaching India and Southeast Asia
• Christopher Columbus, sponsored by Spain, sought a westward route to Asia but instead landed in the Americas in 1492
• Subsequent expeditions by Spanish conquistadors, such as Hernán Cortés and Francisco Pizarro, led to the conquest of the Aztec and Inca Empires
• The Americas represented a "New World" for Europeans, with novel flora, fauna, and indigenous cultures
• Exploration also facilitated the spread of Christianity, as European missionaries sought to convert indigenous populations

Trade Networks and Economic Systems

• The Columbian Exchange introduced new crops (maize, potatoes, tomatoes), animals (horses, cattle), and diseases (smallpox, measles) between the Old and New Worlds
  • This exchange transformed agriculture, diets, and populations on both sides of the Atlantic
• The Atlantic slave trade, driven by European demand for plantation labor, forcibly transported millions of Africans to the Americas
  • The triangular trade connected Europe, Africa, and the Americas through the exchange of manufactured goods, enslaved people, and raw materials
• The Spanish colonial economy relied on the encomienda system, which granted Spanish colonists the right to indigenous labor and tribute
• The Portuguese established a trading empire in the Indian Ocean, with outposts in Goa, Macau, and Nagasaki
  • They dominated the spice trade, particularly in pepper and cinnamon
• European joint-stock companies, such as the Dutch East India Company and the British East India Company, facilitated global trade and colonial expansion
• Mercantilism, an economic policy that emphasized exports and the accumulation of bullion, shaped European colonial practices

Cultural Exchange and Interactions

• The Atlantic World facilitated the exchange of ideas, beliefs, and artistic traditions among Europe, Africa, and the Americas
• European missionaries, particularly from the Catholic orders of the Jesuits and Franciscans, sought to convert indigenous populations to Christianity
  • They established missions and schools, often adapting Christian teachings to local contexts
• African cultural traditions, such as music, dance, and religious practices, influenced the development of new cultural forms in the Americas (samba, capoeira, voodoo)
• Indigenous American art and architecture, such as Aztec codices and Inca textiles, fascinated European collectors and inspired new artistic styles
• The European Renaissance, with its emphasis on classical learning and humanism, spread to the colonies through the establishment of universities and libraries
• The Enlightenment ideals of reason, progress, and individual rights influenced the American and French Revolutions and the rise of anti-colonial movements
• The Scientific Revolution transformed European understanding of the natural world, with implications for navigation, cartography, and colonial resource extraction

Technological Advancements

• The printing press, invented by Johannes Gutenberg in the 15th century, facilitated the spread of knowledge and ideas across Europe and its colonies
• Improvements in navigation, such as the magnetic compass, astrolabe, and quadrant, enabled European explorers to chart new trade routes and establish colonies
• The caravel, a small, maneuverable ship, was well-suited for exploration and trade
• Gunpowder weapons, such as cannons and muskets, gave European powers a military advantage over indigenous populations
  • The Spanish use of guns and horses contributed to their conquest of the Aztec and Inca Empires
• Advancements in cartography, including the use of latitude and longitude, allowed for more accurate mapping of the world
• The Scientific Revolution led to new instruments and methods for observing and measuring the natural world (telescope, microscope, scientific method)
• The Industrial Revolution, beginning in the late 18th century, introduced new technologies such as the steam engine, spinning jenny, and power loom, transforming production and transportation

Social and Political Structures

• European colonialism created new social hierarchies in the Americas, with European settlers at the top, followed by mixed-race individuals, indigenous peoples, and enslaved Africans
• The Spanish encomienda system granted colonists the right to indigenous labor and tribute, while the Portuguese used the similar bandeirante system in Brazil
• Plantation agriculture, particularly for sugar, tobacco, and cotton, relied on the labor of enslaved Africans and shaped social and economic structures in the Americas
• The Catholic Church played a significant role in colonial society, with missionaries seeking to convert indigenous populations and the Church serving as a major landowner and political power
• The Enlightenment ideals of natural rights, consent of the governed, and separation of powers influenced the American and French Revolutions and the rise of democratic movements
• The Atlantic Revolutions, including the American, French, Haitian, and Latin American independence movements, challenged traditional monarchies and colonial rule
• The rise of nation-states and nationalism in the 19th century led to the consolidation of political power and the redrawing of borders in Europe and the Americas

Impact and Legacy

• The Columbian Exchange had lasting effects on global ecosystems, agriculture, and populations
  • New World crops, such as maize, potatoes, and tomatoes, became staples in European and African diets
  • Old World diseases, such as smallpox and measles, decimated indigenous American populations
• The Atlantic slave trade and plantation agriculture had profound impacts on African societies and the African diaspora
  • The legacy of slavery and racism continues to shape social, economic, and political realities in the Americas
• European colonialism and imperialism had lasting effects on the political, economic, and cultural development of the Americas, Africa, and Asia
  • Colonial borders and political structures often disregarded indigenous and ethnic boundaries, leading to ongoing conflicts
• The Atlantic Revolutions and the rise of nation-states redefined political legitimacy and citizenship, with ongoing struggles for democracy and self-determination
• The Industrial Revolution, which began in the Atlantic World, transformed global economies and societies, leading to increased productivity, urbanization, and social inequality
• The Atlantic World facilitated the global spread of Christianity, particularly Catholicism and Protestantism, as well as the rise of syncretic religions such as voodoo and santeria
• The legacy of cultural exchange and interaction can be seen in the diversity of languages, artistic traditions, and culinary practices in the Americas and beyond