Download Unit III – 1450 C

Unit III – 1450 C.E. – 1750 C.E.
See the Big Picture
Questions for considerable – even endless – thought:
These questions are questions we must ask ourselves constantly. The first
question helps us understand the periodization of history. The next six questions are
questions developed from each of the AP World History Course Themes that are located
in your syllabus.
- Why this periodization?
The most significant change that occurs in this time period is the inclusion of the
Americas in the global trade network. With this inclusion, a truly global economy
develops. As Europeans are getting ready to reach out and explore the world around
them, the previous world power, China, is more focused on internal stability. This shift
allows Europe to rise as a dominant world power.
The empires of the day needed to decide the degree to which they should interact
with the outside world. While Europe was embracing outside interaction and conquest,
many other empires were more insular and focused on their on preservation and stability.
- What happens when people come in contact with one another?
During this period, the world becomes truly global. For the first time, the
Americas are included in the global trade network and the process of true globalization
begins. Trade is extended throughout all parts of the world. The European nations gain
access to Asian trade routes and attempt to control them. The Colombian Exchange of
goods, disease, and cultures spreads throughout the world.
- Why do some things change while other things stay the same?
The most significant change in this period is the inclusion of the Americas. These
encounters with the Americas set off a tremendous chain of events that were felt
throughout the world. Some of the continuities of this period include the importance of
China as a world power.
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How does the development of new technology and movement of people
affect the world?
Improvements in the spread of shipping technologies and gunpowder weapons
allowed European countries to begin their dominance of the world. Native American
people died by the millions due to their exposure to previously unknown European
diseases, and in Africa, people were forcibly transported across the Atlantic Ocean to fill
the need for labor on plantations.
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How do societies organize themselves socially, and what roles do men and
women play?
In the Americas, a new social structure emerges based on race. Those with pure
European blood are considered the highest socially and politically, and those with
indigenous or African blood were considered the lowest. Women of the harem in the
Ottoman Empire wielded considerable power behind the scenes.
Created by Mr. Hernon for AP World History
-
How do people identify themselves and express themselves culturally and
intellectually?
In Europe, the Renaissance and Reformation challenged previously accepted
beliefs and the power of the Roman Catholic Church. In other parts of the world, like
China, reaffirmation of more traditional beliefs was viewed as the key to stability.
- How do people govern themselves?
The predominant form of political organization remained the empire. European
empires, like those of Spain and Portugal, stretched their power overseas to conquer and
control the newly encountered Americas. At the same time, dominant land-based empires
such as the Ottoman, Mughal, and the Qing grew powerful.
Themes in Action
1) Interaction between humans and the environment
a. European colonization of the Americas
b. Columbian Exchange
2) Development and interaction of cultures
a. Mestizo culture
b. European Renaissance
c. Scientific Revolution
d. Protestant Reformation
3) State-building, expansion, and conflict
a. Spanish and Portuguese empires
b. Ming and Qing empires
c. Russian empire
4) Creation, expansion, and interaction of economic systems
a. Trading post empires
b. Role of commodities (i.e. sugar, slaves, silver)
c. Forced labor (i.e. Encomienda system, Atlantic slave trade, Russian
serfdom)
5) Development and transformation of social structures
a. Mestizo culture
b. European middle class
Reviewing Critically
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What are the causes of changes and continuities from the previous unit and
within this unit? What is the evidence of the changes?
How does the world economic system of this period compare to the world
economic system of the period before?
How did greater global trade interactions impact world political structure?
What are the political characteristics of the unit? Examine the political
structures of the Ottoman, China, Portugal, Spain, Russia, France, England,
Tokugawa, and Mughal.
Created by Mr. Hernon for AP World History
-
What are the characteristics of the African empires in general? Focus on one –
Kongo, Benin, Oyo, Songhay – as illustrative.
What are the changes of the roles of women in households and politics? What
are the continuities?
Describe the various slaves systems prior to 1450 CE. Explain how these
systems changed during the time period.
Analyze the role trade within the Atlantic Slave system.
How did trade impact the demographic profile (or the demographic
characteristics) of the time period?
Describe the impact of diseases, crops, animals and their impact on various
cultures.
Explain the Columbian Exchange. Explain how this exchange caused changes
and continuities in Africa, the Americas, and Europe.
Compare the global causes and impacts of cultural change.
Describe the changes and continuities of Confucianism since its beginnings.
What you should definitely be able to do…
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Analyze imperial systems: European sea-borne empires compared with a landbased Asian empires
Compare colonial administrations
Compare Mesoamerican and Andean systems of economic exchange
Analyze political, social, cultural, and economic changes and continuities in
the Atlantic world
Compare coercive labor systems: slavery and other coercive labor systems in
the Americas
Understand the development of empire (i.e. general empire building in Asia,
Africa, and Europe)
Compare Russia’s interaction with the West with the interaction of one of the
following (Ottoman Empire, China, Tokugawa Japan, Mughal India) with the
West.
Six things you should be able to explain to your grandchildren…
1) As a result of the search for a faster way to the trade routes of the Indian
Ocean, the Americas are included in the global trade network, and the process
of true globalization begins. This encounter sets off the Colombian Exchange
of goods, disease, and cultures which spreads throughout the world.
2) Improvements in and the spread of shipping technologies and gunpowder
weapons allow European countries to begin to exercise a more prominent role
in world affairs.
Created by Mr. Hernon for AP World History
3) Native American people die by the millions due to their exposure to
previously unknown European diseases. African people are forcibly
transported across the Atlantic Ocean to fill the need for forced labor on
plantations.
4) New social structures emerge like those in the Americas based on race. While
few women exert power publicly, women of the harem in the Ottoman Empire
wielded considerable power behind the scenes.
5) In Europe, the Renaissance and Reformation challenge previously accepted
beliefs and the power of the Roman Catholic Church. In other parts of the
world such as China, reaffirmation of more traditional beliefs is viewed as the
key to stability.
6) European empires such as Spain and Portugal stretch their power overseas to
conquer and control the newly encountered Americas. At the same time,
dominant land-based empires such as the Ottoman, Mughal, and Qing grow
powerful.
Created by Mr. Hernon for AP World History