Trade & Economy
What was the major reason for European exploration and expansion in the 15th century?
To find new trade routes and acquire wealth (Gold, Glory, and God)
What was the Treaty of Tordesillas, and which two countries were involved?
A 1494 agreement dividing the New World between Spain and Portugal.
What is syncretism, and can you provide an example from world history
The blending of cultures; Example: Vodou (Haiti) blending African and Catholic traditions.
What was the Black Death, and how did it affect Europe’s population and economy?
A plague that killed millions and led to labor shortages and economic shifts.
What maritime technology helped European explorers navigate long distances in the 15th century?
The astrolabe and lateen sail.
What trade route connected Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and East Asia, facilitating the exchange of goods like silk and spices?
The Indian Ocean Trade Network
How did the Mongol Empire promote trade and stability across Eurasia?
By creating the Pax Mongolica, ensuring safe trade routes along the Silk Road.
How did Angkor Wat reflect Hindu influence in Southeast Asia?
Originally built as a Hindu temple, later converted to a Buddhist site.
What was one of the major causes of Latin American independence movements in the 19th century?
Enlightenment ideas and dissatisfaction with colonial rule.
Why was the Inca Road System crucial to the empire’s administration and economy?
It connected the vast empire for trade, military, and communication purposes.
Name one major impact of the Columbian Exchange on Europe and one on the Americas.
Europe gained new crops like potatoes and maize; the Americas suffered from disease like smallpox.
What tax policies did the Mughal Empire use to maintain power and control its diverse population?
They used the zamindar tax system and sometimes abolished the jizya tax on non-Muslims.
Why was tolerance an important policy in the Mongol Empire, and how did it benefit their rule?
It allowed diverse religions and cultures to coexist, leading to stability and trade prosperity
What role did cash crops play in colonial economies, and how did they contribute to the expansion of the slave trade?
Cash crops (sugar, tobacco) required large labor forces, leading to increased enslavement of Africans.
What was John Locke’s main argument in his social contract theory?
Government should protect life, liberty, and property; power comes from the people.
How did the Indian Ocean trade differ from the Transatlantic trade in terms of goods exchanged and methods of travel?
Indian Ocean trade involved luxury goods (spices, silk) and used monsoon winds; Transatlantic trade focused on cash crops and enslaved labor.
Compare the Aztec and Inca civilizations in terms of government and economy.
The Aztecs used tribute-based rule; the Incas had a centralized state economy with the mita labor system.
What were the effects of diaspora communities on global cultures and economies?
They spread ideas, religion, and trade networks, such as Chinese merchant communities in Southeast Asia.
How did caste systems in Mexico (New Spain) reinforce Spanish control over indigenous and African populations?
The caste system created racial and social divisions to maintain Spanish dominance.
How did the printing press contribute to global change during the Renaissance and Reformation?
It spread ideas quickly, increasing literacy and promoting religious and scientific thought.
What was the significance of the silver trade in Peru, and how did it impact global trade?
It fueled global commerce, particularly benefiting Spain and China, and led to inflation in Europe.
How did African kingdoms participate in and respond to the Atlantic slave trade?
Some kingdoms (e.g., Dahomey) engaged in trade for weapons, while others resisted or collapsed due to warfare.
What similarities and differences existed between Ibn Battuta's and Zheng He’s travels?
Both explored extensively; Ibn Battuta traveled for religious and cultural observation, while Zheng He led naval expeditions for China.
How did the Enlightenment influence global revolutions, such as the American and French Revolutions?
It emphasized natural rights, democracy, and the questioning of absolute power.
What were the major intellectual achievements of the Scientific Revolution, and how did they change the way people viewed the world?
Developments in heliocentrism, physics, and anatomy challenged traditional beliefs and led to modern science.