An Age of Exploration and Isolation 1400 - 1800

World History Chapter 3 Review

For “God, Glory, and Gold”– Setting the Stage

• The spread of Islam and the failure of the Crusades to dislodge the Muslim empires from the silk road forced Europeans to seek new routs to the East.

• By 1275, Marco Polo had been top the courts of Kublai Khan in China, and brought back ideas of printing blocks, gunpowder, and other subjects (noodles?)

• Europeans Seek New Trade Routes– The desire for wealth was the main driver for European

exploration, and the greatest prize, trade with the far east.

– Italians of the great merchant families controlled what little trade there was from the east (Venice, Genoa). By 1400, merchants from other European countries sought to end this monopoly.

• The Spread Of Christianity– God and the spread of Christianity also became a reason

to explore and convert others.• Technology Makes Exploration Possible

– Until 1400, European ship making was not very good, and European vessels could not sail against the wind. By adding triangular sails (Muslims) to make Caravels, this allowed new ships to sail more freely.

– Also, Europeans took advantage of other technologies, the Astrolabe (Muslims) and the Magnetic Compass (Chinese).

Portugal Leads the Way• The Portuguese Explore Africa

– Portugal became a leader in boat technology, sailing, and navigation under the leadership of Prince Henry (the Navigator) who created a school for these purposes.

– Driven by the lust for wealth and, to a lesser extent, spreading the word of Christianity, the Portuguese began exploring the coast of Africa, seeking a passage to the East.

– Though China was their ultimate goal, the Portuguese traded all along the African coast for gold, silver, spices, and later slaves.

• Portuguese Sailors Reach Asia– Bartolomeu Dias

• Reached the southern tip of Africa in 1488– Vasco de Gama

• Used the new sea route around Africa to establish a trade post at Calicut, India, and the profit from the voyage was 60 times the investment.

• Spain Also Makes Claims– Envious of the Portuguese success, Spain was convinced by

Columbus to sail West instead, to find the Indies and China.– Famously, Columbus did not find the Western Passage, but instead a

whole new world to exploit.– This rivalry between Spain and Portugal to get the wealth of the East

caused enough friction that the Pope stepped in and the world was divided between Spain and Portugal by the Line of Demarcation which went from north to south through the tip of Brazil in the Atlantic. The Portuguese would get everything to the East, and Spain would get everything to the West.

Trading Empires in the Indian Ocean• Portugal's Trading Empire

– The Portuguese greatly expanded their trade networks to the east, as well as creating many forts to protect that trade.

– Adding cannon to their ships gave the Portuguese advantage over the Muslim pirates and raiders.

– Straight of Hormuz, Goa, Malacca, the Spice Islands– Cost of spices dropped 80% in Europe as the Italian/Muslim

monopoly was broken.• Other Nations Challenge the Portuguese

– Continued Portuguese success caused other nations to join the trade efforts, and Spanish explorer Ferdinand Magellan found the Southern Passage through the tip of South America, sailed across the Pacific, and landed in the Philippines, claiming it for Spain.

– By 1600, the English and Dutch were strong contenders in the Indian Ocean trade.

– The Dutch expanded their trade enormously. And with some 20,000 trading vessels, eroded Spanish, Portuguese and English.

– Dutch East India Company – world’s first stock company.• Dutch Trading Outposts

– By 1619 the Dutch had a trading headquarters at Batavia on the island of Java, from there they expanded their control of the area. By 1700, the Dutch would control much of the area.

• British and French Traders– The British focused their efforts on India, and formed the British

East India Company.– The French participated in the trade, but were never able to take

control.– Between 1500 and 1800, Europeans battled for control of the

eastern trade, and many ports were in European control, but little else, until technology changed the equations.

Voyage of Ferdinand Magellan

China Under the Powerful Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644)

– By the time that Portuguese traders reached China in 1514, the Mongol rulers had been replaced by the Ming.

• The Rise of the Ming– Son of a peasant, Hongwu led the rebel army that defeated the Mongol rulers in 1368.– Hongwu restored agricultural lands, encouraged fish farming, and growing commercial

crops like sugar and cotton.– Hongwu returned to the practices of Confucianism, Merit based employment in the

government by civil service examinations, and brought stability to China, for a time.– Later, Hongwu became paranoid, suspecting plots everywhere, and purged(killed)

thousands from the government.– Yonglo, son of Hongwu, emerged victorious after Hongwu’s death caused a power

struggle. Yonglo continues many of his fathers policies, though he moved the court from Nanjing to Beijing.

• The Voyages of Zheng Ho– A Chinese Muslim, Zheng He, led seven voyages to expand China’s power and

gathering of tribute, though the voyages likely cost a great deal more than any tribute gained.

– Zheng He’s fleet had massive treasure ship, unlike anything the Europeans had, and each fleet had between 40 to 300 vessels. More than 27,000 sailors, soldiers, carpenters, tailors, interpreters, doctors, cooks, accountants, and others needed to maintain such a fleet. They sailed from port to port on the Indian Ocean, distributing gifts, collecting tribute, and showing everyone the power of China.

– After the seventh voyage, the fleet was decommissioned, and China went into isolation.

• Ming Relations with Foreign Countries– Trade through Macao, Canton, Ningbo– Smuggling was common– Demand for Chinese good grew rapidly, but China did not industrialize– Social rankings – Scholar to Merchant– Taxes on agriculture low, taxes on manufactured goods and trade high– Jesuits bring European ideas and technology, most of which is rejected

Manchus Found the Qing Dynasty– By 1600, the Ming dynasty was in trouble, failing harvest, corruption, high taxes, and civil strife and

rebellion followed. (Lost the Mandate of Heaven)– By 1644, the Manchus of Manchuria (Northwest of China, directly north of Korea) invaded and the Ming

dynasty collapsed.• China Under the Qing

– For the next 260 years, the Qing dynasty of the Manchus expanded China’s borders and influence to include Taiwan (Formosa), Mongolia, Tibet, and the western deserts.

– While many Chinese rebelled against the Qing, slowly they began to trust the Manchus, who kept Chinese traditions, Confucianism, and social structures.

– Two of the most impressive of the Manchu rulers were Kangxi and his grandson Qian-long– Kangxi ruled for about 60 years (from 1661), and was a scholar and patron of the arts. He lowered

taxes, reduced government expenses, allowed scholars and intellectuals places in government, and even enjoyed the company of Jesuits in court.

– Qian-long (1736-1795) expanded the borders to China’s largest extent, and would often work from dawn to dusk on the Empires problems.

• Manchus Continue Chinese Isolation– For the Chinese, China is the Middle Kingdom, the center of the world, and all things come to China.

This meant that anyone who wanted to trade with China must follow China’s rules• Traders must give tribute.• Trades must Kowtow• China will not buy European manufactures• Trades will only occur at special ports• Trades must be paid in silver or gold

– The Dutch would accept these limitations, and the Chinese accepted Dutch trade. This would make the Dutch rich off Chinese Porcelains, Silks, and Tea (by 1800, tea would be 80% of all shipments)

– The British did not accept the limitations of the Chinese, and were excluded from trade.• Korea Under the Manchus

– The Koreas were already a part of the Manchu empire before the start of the Qing dynasty.– Later Japanese invasions would help instill new ideas of nationalism.

Life in Ming and Qing China– During most of the Qing dynasty there was peace and prosperity, especially with new

foods introduced from the Americas• Families and the Role of Women

– In China, women are second class citizens, subordinate to men. Men are considered important because of family continuity, as only men could do certain things like religious rituals.

– Confucianism– Female Infanticide– Women’s work

• Work in the fields• Teach the children• Take care of accounts

• Cultural Developments– High quality Porcelains– Traditional art styles– Drama (low literacy)

A New Feudalism Under Strong Leaders– Japan was having a difficult time during the Sengoku

Jidai “Warring States” period, as the Asikaga Shogunate was largely decentralized and was overthrown by Oda Nobunaga.

– From 1467 to 1568 Japan was in civil war as daimyo fought for control of the Shogunate

• Local Lords Rule– The Emperor was a figurehead, though still considered

to be divine.– The Daimyo ruled their local areas as absolute kings,

• New Leaders Restore Order– In 1568, Oda Nobunaga seized Kyoto, and was the first

to use new European firearms in battle to great effect.– Nobunaga was unable to restore unity, and committed

Seppuku when his generals turned on him.– Another Nobunaga general was Toyotomi Hideyoshi

who though he started as a lowly foot soldier, rose to become Nobunaga’s best general, and though he could not become Shogun, he did become a bakufu (military governor) and Taiko. (Shogun is also called bakufu, which translates as an office in the tent, or field HQ)

Tokugawa Shogunate Unites Japan• The death of Hideyoshi during an invasion of Korea

caused the campaign to end, and once again, the Daimyo went back to fighting about the Shogunate.

• The conflict culminated in the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, where Tokugawa Ieyasu defeated Ishida Mitsunari, and was invited by the Emperor to become Shogun.

• Exiling his enemies, and redistributing land to the victors not only made the Tokugawa rich, it secured the country.

• Moved the capital to from Kyoto to Edo (Tokyo)• Kept hostages and forced all other Daimyo to spend

every other year in the capital to force them to spend money on fashion and useless pursuits ( instead of building castles and armies to fight him)

• The Tokugawa Shogunate was largely peaceful, prosperous, and allowed Japan to build a highly centralized society and a very structured society.

Life in Tokugawa Japan• Society in Tokugawa Japan

– Emperor a figurehead– The Shogun was the military Dictator (by the grace of

the Emperor)– To keep this relationship, the Tokugawa restricted the

funds of the Emperor and his court to prevent independent action.

– Japan was largely an agricultural society, but this began to change as cities and commerce grew.

• Culture Under the Tokugawa Shogunate– Mostly prosperous– Kabuki– Noh– Hiaku– Samurai have less power (no fighting)

Contact Between Europe and Japan

• Portugal Sends Ships, Merchants and Technology to Japan– At first, Japan welcomed traders during the Sengoku Jidai (warring states

period)– The Portuguese brought many new items from Europe, clocks, guns,

eyeglasses, tobacco.– Guns and cannon changed warfare in Japan, though the sword remained

the main weapon of the Samurai.• Christian Missionaries in Japan

– In 1549 Christian missionaries began to arrive in Japan.– By 1600, there were about 300,000 converts, mostly in the south (areas

hostile to the Tokugawas)– Though worried about a Christian uprising, Tokugawa feared losing the

European trade that had become vital to the Japanese economy.– In 1612, however, fearing uprisings, Christianity was banned.

• Closed Country Policy– In 1637, there was an uprising, with many Christians (30,000), and this

brought about a change in policy, all Christians were outlawed on pain of death, Europeans were kicked out, and only allowed to trade at one port, Nagasaki, controlled by the Tokugawa.

– By 1639 the country was closed• Japan in Isolation

– Japan will remain isolated for about 200 years