Political+West+and+Changing+World+Balance

The World in 1450: Politics

by Hannah Johnson Key Changes in the Middle East (Stearns 439):
 * Northwest ruled by Byzantine Empire
 * In rapid decline, fell to Turks into 1453
 * Islamic Caliphate
 * Fell to Mongols two centuries later


 * Landlords in control over peasantry (440)
 * Agriculture declined


 * Ottoman Turks took over caliphate and Byzantine (440)
 * Expanded to southeast Europe
 * Politics and military much more powerful than caliphate in previous centuries

Chinese Outreach and Reconsideration (441):
 * Rebels drove out Mongols in 1368
 * Zhu Yuanzhang controlled Beijing, previous Mongol capitol
 * New dynasty Ming-brilliant in Chinese
 * Lasted until 1644i
 * Zheng He, Muslim admiral commanded expeditions to India, Persian Gulf and Red Sea
 * Compasses and maps improved
 * Confucian bureaucrats didn't like Zheng He, new trade policies

The Rise of the West (442)
 * Church under attack
 * Warrior aristocrats "softened their style of life"
 * Feudal Monarchy strengthened
 * National and regional governments improved
 * 100 Year War
 * Between Britain and France
 * Military innovative, paid by royal government
 * Regional monarchies in Spain, Portugal

Imitation and Commercial Problems (443):
 * Political stability led to Asian technologies

Human Values and Renaissance Culture (446):
 * Innovation and humanism
 * "'Renaissance Spirit' could also spur innovation"

The Iberian Spirit of Religious Mission (446):
 * Spain and Portugal: tough agenda for their military and religion
 * Army tough
 * Government should promote Christianity
 * Link between church and state
 * Religious missions (447)

Impact of Renaissance
 * Had little impact outside of Italy but the new cultural currents were an important innovation in Western History
 * Beginning only with wealthy but spans down to commoners
 * Wide range of Italian commerce and shipping
 * Building blocks of European outreach
 * Led to expedition
 * General advancement and innovations in arts and culture

Western Expansion (448): more information and practice at: [|Stearns Textbook Website]
 * Government, Royalty pay for expeditions and exploration
 * To gain access to products/goods from China
 * Too expensive to buy from the Silk Road
 * Gain political strength by taxing whatever is found
 * Risk, trips might not be unsuccessful