1. What was the Afro-Eurasian trading world before Columbus? Explain.

Before Columbus, the Afro-Eurasian trading world was: The Indian Ocean o location made it a crossroads for commercial and cultural trade between China, India, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe o demand for Southwest Asian good increased o Port of Malaca a great commercial entrepot warehouse for storing goods for temporary storage before being shipped to other places Chinese porcelains, silks, camphor, pepper, cloves, nutmeg, sugar, and Indian printed cotton and woven tapestries, copper weapons, and incense were stored in fortified warehouses while waiting for the next monsoon o China size and a sophisticated artisanal production played a key role in the revival of the Indian Ocean trade and the most advanced economy in the world Admiral Zheng commander of a fleet of 317 ships that held various goods, such as porcelains and silks to be exchanged sailed as far as Egypt o India link between the Persian Gulf and the Southeast Asian trade networks important contributor of goods to the world trading system brought back spices, books, hardwood, and a giraffe

exported Indian cotton, exotic animals, spices (pepper), and ivory also imported religion: Hinduism and Buddhism created cultural diffusion

o Africa West African traders from the Sudan contributed gold to the world markets by using camels to travel through the Sahara desert Mali Mansa Musa went on a hajj or pilgrimage one of the 5 Pillars of Islam Results o Malis enormous wealth spread across the Muslim world and into Europe sparked the interest of European rulers in African gold o forged new trading and diplomatic ties with Muslim states (e.g. Egypt and Morocco) o returned home with scholars, artists, poets, and architects introduced new Arab styles cultural diffusion made Mali a center of culture and learning Swahili-speaking states engaged in the Indian Ocean trade exchanged ivory, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shells, copra, and slaves for textiles, spices, cowrie shells, porcelain, and other goods The Ottoman Empire Middle East stood as the crossroads for all lands important supplier of silk and cotton Ottoman expansion took over the Balkans, Hungary, Syria, Palestine, Egypt, North Africa, and Vienna purpose:

o to monopolize trade west into the Mediterranean while spreading Islam o Europeans became fearful tried to look for new trade routes The Persian Safavid Empire didnt like the Ottomans (Sunnis) Shiism faith competed for control over trade routes to the east with the Ottomans Ottoman-Safavid War relied on by Ottomans for Irans raw silk Genoese and Venetian Middlemen Venice and Genoa Venice obtained goods from middlemen in the Eastern Mediterranean and Asia Minor had trading posts in North Africa, the Levant, and northern Europe brought the most important spice, pepper, to Europe besides trading goods engaged in trading young girls as servants or concubines and the slave trade Genoa dominated the Northern trading route to Asia through the Black Sea enthusiastic slave traders important for the Atlantic slave trade rivaled Venice controlled luxury trades which included spices, silks, and carpets with the Easy

active in western Mediterranean traded with North Africa, southern France, Spain, England, and Flanders

2. How and why did Europeans undertake ambitious voyages of expansion that would usher in a new era in global contact? Causes of European Voyages of Expansion the need for Spices and the need for new trade routes o spices were used to flavor food, make perfume, medicines, drugs, and dyes o wanted to cut out the Italian-Muslim middlemen looked for new trade routes religious fervor o passion and energy of the Iberian reconquista encouraged the Portuguese and Spanish to continue the Christian Crusade o overseas exploration transfer of religious zeal, enthusiasm for conquest and expansion, and certainty of Gods blessing on their ventures to new non-Christian territories desire for GLORY o urge to chart new waters o the desire to know more about the geography and peoples of the world the lack of opportunity at home o after the reconquista, enterprising young men of the Spanish upper class found their economic and political opportunities greatly limited turned to the Americas to seek their fortune the growth of government power o reassertion of monarchial authority and state centralization provided rulers with resources o monarchs shared a mix of motivations: desire to please God to desire to win glory and profit from trade escape the hard life at home o continue family trade o attempt to win some great riches of empire o to find a better life as illegal immigrants in colonies

How is it made possible? New ships o Caravels small, light, 3 masted sailing ships held more cargo and were much more maneuverable combined the square sails of European ships with Arab lateen or triangular sails o Lateen Sails Cannons o provided protection and used often at sea Gunpowder Sternpost Rudder Reintroduction of Ptolemys Geography o allowed cartographers to create new maps however, not accurate and showed the world much smaller than it actually was Magnetic Compass o invented by China o enabled sailors to determine their direction Astrolabe o determined the latitude of the sun and other celestial bodies o gave mariners the ability to plot their position north or south of the equator Cartographers o created more accurate maps and sea charts superior European weaponry, shipbuilding, and navigational skill allowed them to undertake such voyages and to overcome the resistance of far superior forces allowed European ships to tack against the wind

3. Explain why it was the Iberians who led the Age of Discovery. The Iberians leading the Age of Discovery Iberian Reconquista o encouraged the Portuguese and Spanish to continue the Christian crusade o combined with the eagerness for profits and to spread Christianity desired for glory and the urge to chart new waters o after the reconquista, many ambitious men turned to the Americas to seek fortune Portuguese and Spain o Muslim and Italian merchants controlled most trade between Asia and Europe each time goods are passed the prices increased Portuguese and Spain are far price inflation due to risks and protection Portuguese and Spain pay more than other countries led to a desire to cut out the Italian-Muslim middlemen and gain direct access to the riches of Asia Portuguese o seized Ceuta on the North African coast sparked the imagination of Prince Henry the Navigator Prince Henry the Navigator hoped to form an alliance with the rich Christian African ruler, Prester John wanted to find the source of African gold gathered scientists, cartographers, and other experts redesigned ships and trained captains and crews sent out ships that slowly worked their way to explore the coast of West Africa Result:

 Bartholomeu Dias rounded the southern tip of Africa became Cape of Good Hope opened the way for a sea rout to Asia Spain o voyages spurred other European nations to seek a sea route to Asia o Christopher Columbus found the New World led to the Columbian Exchange

Voyages of Portugal and Spain o sparked the interests of English, Dutch, and French explorers to search the coast of North America for a northwest passage to Asia

4. What effect did overseas expansion have on conquered societies on enslaved Africans, and on world trade? Explain. The Effects of Overseas Expansion led to the contact between Old and New Worlds produced the Columbian Exchange o involved the transfer of goods unique to one hemisphere to another Europeans brought cattle (introduced protein in Native American diet), horse, and sheep to the New World the New World brought tobacco, potatoes (helped feed Europes growing population and added carbohydrates in their diet), maize, sugarcane, cotton, gold, and silver led to the Age of Imperialism o rise of European colonial control introduced new languages, cultures, and new religions that replaced older pagan rituals CULTURAL DIFFUSION Spanish Settlement o introduced the encomienda system allowed conquerors to employ groups of Amerindians as agricultural or mining laborers or as tribute payers a legalized from of slavery Decline of Native American Population and Increase in Land Ownership o caused by European diseases, such as small pox and influenza, to which Native Americans did not have resistance o native population diverted from traditional agricultural work cultivation of crops suffered malnutrition reduced fertility rates starvation women separated from infants when working high infant mortality rate no livestock to supply alternatives for breast milk o many died through outright violence Spanish murdered thousands

Rise of the Slave Trade o caused by the decline in indigenous population (labor force of many colonies) increased demand on laborers to work on their lands o African kings and dealers sold black slaves to European merchants in exchange of artillery