💣World History – 1400 to Present Unit 6 – Colonization and Economic Growth

Key Historical Events

• Age of Exploration began in the 15th century as European nations sought new trade routes and colonies
• Columbian Exchange transferred crops, animals, and diseases between the Old World and New World following Christopher Columbus' voyages (1492-1504)
• Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) divided the New World between Spain and Portugal
  • Spain claimed most of the Americas while Portugal gained control over Brazil
• British East India Company established (1600) to manage trade in India and Southeast Asia
  • Became instrumental in the colonization of the Indian subcontinent
• Atlantic slave trade peaked in the 18th century, forcibly transporting millions of Africans to the Americas
• Seven Years' War (1756-1763) resulted in significant territorial changes and the rise of British colonial dominance
• American Revolution (1765-1783) led to the independence of the Thirteen Colonies from British rule
• Haitian Revolution (1791-1804) was a successful slave revolt that established Haiti as the first independent black republic

Colonial Powers and Their Strategies

• Spain focused on conquering the Aztec and Inca empires, establishing a system of encomiendas and missions to control indigenous populations
• Portugal prioritized establishing trading posts along the coasts of Africa, India, and Southeast Asia before colonizing Brazil
• British colonialism initially focused on North America and the Caribbean, later expanding to India, Australia, and parts of Africa
  • Employed a combination of direct rule and indirect rule through local elites
• French colonialism concentrated on North America, the Caribbean, and West Africa, with a strong emphasis on the fur trade and plantation agriculture
• Dutch East India Company (VOC) established a trading empire in Southeast Asia, with a focus on the spice trade
• European powers used various strategies to maintain control, including military force, economic dominance, and cultural assimilation

Economic Systems and Policies

• Mercantilism was the dominant economic policy during the colonial era, emphasizing the accumulation of wealth through a favorable balance of trade
  • Colonies were viewed as sources of raw materials and markets for finished goods
• Triangular Trade connected Europe, Africa, and the Americas, exchanging manufactured goods, slaves, and raw materials
• Plantation system in the Americas relied on slave labor to produce cash crops like sugar, tobacco, and cotton for export
• Encomienda system granted Spanish colonists the right to extract labor and tribute from indigenous populations
• British Navigation Acts (1651-1663) restricted colonial trade to benefit the mother country
• Joint-stock companies, such as the British and Dutch East India Companies, were established to manage trade and colonization efforts

Impact on Indigenous Populations

• European colonization led to a significant decline in indigenous populations due to introduced diseases (smallpox), warfare, and exploitation
  • Estimated 90% population loss in the Americas within a century of contact
• Forced labor systems, such as the encomienda and the mita, disrupted traditional societies and economies
• Missions were established to convert indigenous peoples to Christianity and assimilate them into colonial society
  • Often resulted in the suppression of native cultures and languages
• Mestizaje, the mixing of European and indigenous populations, created new social and racial hierarchies in the colonies
• Some indigenous groups formed alliances with European powers to gain advantages over rival tribes
• Indigenous knowledge and technologies, such as agricultural practices and medicinal plants, were appropriated by the colonizers

Trade Networks and Global Exchange

• Columbian Exchange introduced new crops (potatoes, maize, tomatoes) and animals (horses, cattle) between the Old and New Worlds
  • Transformed agricultural practices and diets on both sides of the Atlantic
• Triangular Trade connected Europe, Africa, and the Americas, facilitating the exchange of goods and the Atlantic slave trade
• Manila Galleons linked Spanish colonies in the Philippines with Mexico, exchanging Asian luxury goods for American silver
• Indian Ocean trade networks expanded, with European powers competing for control over the spice trade
• Trans-Saharan trade routes connected West Africa with the Mediterranean, exchanging gold, salt, and slaves
• Fur trade in North America became a significant source of wealth for European powers, particularly France and Britain

Technological Advancements

• Innovations in shipbuilding and navigation, such as the caravel and the astrolabe, enabled long-distance ocean voyages
• Gunpowder weapons, particularly cannons, gave European powers a military advantage over indigenous populations
• Printing press facilitated the spread of knowledge and ideas, contributing to the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment
• Advancements in cartography, including the Mercator projection (1569), improved navigation and colonial administration
• Improvements in agricultural techniques, such as crop rotation and selective breeding, increased food production
• Development of new manufacturing processes, like the putting-out system, laid the foundation for the Industrial Revolution

Social and Cultural Transformations

• European colonization led to the spread of Christianity, particularly Catholicism in Spanish and Portuguese colonies and Protestantism in British and Dutch colonies
  • Syncretism between Christianity and indigenous beliefs created new religious practices
• Colonial societies were characterized by strict racial and social hierarchies, with Europeans at the top and enslaved Africans at the bottom
  • Mixed-race populations, such as mestizos and mulattos, occupied intermediate positions
• European languages, particularly English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese, became dominant in the colonies
• Colonial education systems aimed to assimilate indigenous populations and create a local elite loyal to the colonial power
• Transatlantic slave trade led to the development of distinct African-American cultures and identities
• European Enlightenment ideas, such as natural rights and self-governance, influenced colonial elites and contributed to the rise of independence movements

Long-term Consequences and Legacy

• European colonialism reshaped global power dynamics, establishing Western dominance over much of the world
  • Legacy of economic exploitation and political subjugation in former colonies
• Atlantic slave trade and plantation system had lasting impacts on race relations and economic inequalities
• Colonial borders and administrative divisions often disregarded ethnic and linguistic boundaries, leading to conflicts in post-colonial states
• Spread of European languages and cultural practices led to the marginalization of indigenous cultures
  • Ongoing efforts to preserve and revitalize native languages and traditions
• Economic systems established during the colonial era, such as the extraction of raw materials and the dependence on export crops, continued to shape the economies of many former colonies
• Independence movements in the Americas (1770s-1820s) and later in Africa and Asia (1940s-1970s) redrew the political map and created new nation-states
• Debates over the legacy of colonialism, including issues of historical responsibility, reparations, and decolonization, continue to shape international relations and social movements