1200-1450
What was the system of European feudalism?
Feudalism was a system where land was exchanged for loyalty and protection. Kings gave land to nobles and nobles gave land to knights. In return knights promised to protect the land and fight if needed. Peasants worked the land and gave a portion of their crops to the lord.
Describe two innovations created or adopted by Europeans that improved their ability to explore the globe.
Europeans improved global exploration with the astrolabe, allowing sailors to determine latitude by measuring the sun or stars, improving navigation across open oceans. They also adopted the caravel, a ship with triangular sails and a shallow hull, allowing them to sail against the wind and travel long distances, improving the efficiency of voyages.
In your own words, define nationalism.
Extreme and sometimes irrational loyalty to those of your own language/culture
What were the causes of WWI?
Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated, causing Austria-Hungary and Serbia to go to war. They both brought in their allies, causing all out war across Europe.
What strides towards democracy did England make?
England took steps toward democracy by limiting the king’s power. The Magna Carta made the king follow laws. Later, Parliament became more important, giving nobles and eventually common people a voice in government.
What economic motives led to European exploration and maritime empires?
European nations such as Spain, Portugal, and France pursued exploration by finding direct sea routes to Asia, as they were trying to increase wealth and power, gaining access to goods like spices and silk, and also acquiring gold & silver. Maritime empires came to be after European powers wanted markets for trade and competed with rivals to claim territory and resources.
Describe 2 legal reforms that occurred due to the harsh realities of industrialization, urbanization, and capitalism.
Unions plus minimum wages, and the abolishment of child labour.
What were the causes of the Cold War?
Distrust between Capitalist America and Communist USSR. Examples include Nuclear arms, space programs, ideologies, and religion.
Describe a European innovation during the late Middle Ages and its effects.
One important innovation was the heavy plow, which improved farming in Europe’s soil. It increased food production, which led to population growth. Another innovation was windmills, which helped grind grain more efficiently.
Define mercantilism and explain how it worked.
Mercantilism is an economic system that is based on the idea that a nation’s power depends on its wealth and that this wealth should be increased through government control of trade. Mercantilism relied on strict government control of trade in order to make a country more wealthy. Nations limited imports while boosting exports, and used colonies for their raw materials while also forcing them to buy the finished goods.
What was the Berlin Conference, who attended it, when did it occur, and what did its participants decide?
A meeting attended by most European powers and more notably not by any African nation over how Africa would be divided up.
What were two effects of the Cold War in Europe?
The USSR began building a large Nuclear Arsenal, which at the time was one of the most powerful in the world. The Space race also resulted in both countries competing for dominance in outer space.
Describe the manorial system.
The manorial system was the economic system of feudal Europe. Lords owned land called manors, and peasants worked the land. In return, peasants received protection and a place to live. Most goods were produced on the manor, so people were mostly self-sufficient.
What were joint-stock companies, and how did they aid maritime empire building during the 17th century?
Joint-stock companies were business organizations in which investors invested their money to fund large ventures mostly in overseas trade, in exchange for a share of the profits. Joint stock companies aided maritime empire building through the voyages and colonies funded. For example the English East India Company established trade posts in India while the Dutch East India Company controlled key trading ports in SE Asia, expanding their own nations’ overseas influence and wealth.
What is imperialism, and what were European nationalist motives for it?
Strong nation taking over other weaker nations for power, to prove their power, and to access more resources. Nationalism played big role in it due to due people wanting to prove their nation is superior by expanding it
How did the Cold War thaw and end?
Glasnost led to Russia becoming more intertwined with the west, having non-state owned businesses, increasing production, and more political parties.
What were the Crusades, and why did Crusaders go on them?
The Crusades were religious wars between Christians and Muslims over control of the Holy Land. Crusaders went for religious reasons, like wanting to reclaim Jerusalem, but also for wealth, land, and power.
Europeans relied upon indentured servitude and chattel slavery in the Americas. Compare these two labor systems.
Europeans used indentured servitude where these servants, often European, signed contracts to work for 4-7 years in exchange for passage, food, shelter, and on some occasions land. They had some legal rights and could gain freedom and social mobility upon the completion of their contract but due to the harsh conditions, many died before completing their contracts.
Chattel slaves, mostly Africans, were forced into lifelong labor and were considered property that had no rights. While both faced harsh conditions, slavery was far more brutal due to physical punishment and permanent as status was inherited by their children.
Describe the causes and the effects of Balkan nationalist movements.
The declining power of the Ottoman empire meant the territories it previously controlled wanted to improve and demanded independence and formed their own nations.
How did European nations treat colonies post WWI? Describe decolonization and the Mandate System as part of your response.
Countries like Britain and France couldn’t keep up with the cost of managing colonies and gave many of them such as India and areas in Africa their independence.