Unit 1: New Global Connections
What were the causes (Three G’s) of European exploration during the Age of Exploration?
The desire to spread and force christianity amongst other countries (God)
Increasing a nation's wealth through gaining control of more resources (Gold)
Expand a nation's empire (Glory)
What is an absolute monarch and what were some examples of them?
A form of government in which a single person, or king and queen holds absolute power, like Henry the 8th, the Queen of England etc.
Why did the Industrial Revolution begin in Britain and how did it spread?
Due to rich coal and iron, an agricultural boom freeing labor, colonel marketing, strong banking, political stability, and key inventions like the steam engine. Like Samuel Slater and John Cockerill, brought British technology abroad, often illegally, establishing factories.
What was the “transatlantic trade” and why was it important?
The brutal trade system between Europe, Africa, and America, involving the forced transportation of millions of enslaved people to the Americas for labour, fueling plantation economies (sugar, cotton) and creating vast wealth, while exchanging European goods for African captives.
Which European country led exploration and how were they involved in Africa?
Portugal led early European exploration, leading to sea routes to get to Africa in the 1400’s
What ideas did the Enlightenment Thinkers support?
Human rights, reason, individualism, advocating for liberty, progress, democracy, and separation of church and state.
What were working conditions like in factories and mines?
Long hours of labour (12-16 hours per day), low pay, no safety regulations leading to frequent severe accidents, terrible air quality, leading to lung diseases, and harsh discipline.
What was the Middle Passage and what were the conditions like?
It was a brutal, forced, slave journey across the sea forcing millions of Africans against their will to board ships and be forced to work, while living in terrible conditions. The ships did not provide healthy living conditions, as they crammed all the slaves in one space below the ship, making the air quality barely breathable, and causing them to get sick.
Who were the Spanish conquistadors and where did they conquer?
They conquered huge territories in the Americas, driven by gold, land, and glory.
How do the Enlightenment ideas impact us today, especially in the United States government?
Democratic government, limited government, ensuring truth of liberty
How were cities affected during this time?
Rapid population growth that caused overcrowding, poor sanitation, and widespread disease, the rise of the middle class, and major changes to urban life with both opportunities and challenges.
What were the motivations of new imperialism?
A mix of economic needs, political power, and cultural justifications.
What was the Columbian Exchange and what kind of impact did it have (good and bad)?
The Colombian Exchanges was the post 1492 transfer of species, people, goods, and ideas between the Americas and the Old World. It created global connections, devastated native people through diseases, boosted Old World population with new crops, and drove European colonialism and the transatlantic slave trade.
What were the benefits and costs of the Industrial Revolution?
Led to cheaper goods, new technologies, more jobs, economic growth, and the rise of the middle class.
What were some ways that people resisted imperialism?
Boycotts and strikes, large scale armed rebellions, nationalist movements, subtle cultural acts such as using secret codes and humor, religious revival, and even simply fleeing to avoid control