Chapter 15Chapter 15

Expanding Worlds: Expanding Worlds: Recovery in the Late Recovery in the Late

Fourteenth and Fourteenth and Fifteenth CenturiesFifteenth Centuries

Focus QuestionsFocus Questions

WHY WERE some African empires able to expand on such an impressive scale during this period?

WHAT ROLE did geographic diversity play in the Inca and Aztec empires?

WHAT STRONG new empires arose on the Eurasian borderlands?

WHY DID China turn away from overseas expansion in the fifteenth century?

WHY DID Europe begin to reach out and cross the oceans in the late 1400s?

Empires in EurasiaEmpires in Eurasia

Ottoman EmpireOttoman Empire Rise of the TurksRise of the Turks Empire of Timur the LameEmpire of Timur the Lame Adaptation of new military technologiesAdaptation of new military technologies Invasion of the BalkansInvasion of the Balkans Building of a fleetBuilding of a fleet Seizure of Constantinople (1453)Seizure of Constantinople (1453)

New source of wealthNew source of wealth Defeat of old Christian rivalDefeat of old Christian rival System for ruleSystem for rule

Russian EmpireRussian Empire Center at MoscowCenter at Moscow Ivan III, first tsarIvan III, first tsar Ivan “the Terrible” (r. 1462-1505)Ivan “the Terrible” (r. 1462-1505)

Married Byzantine princessMarried Byzantine princess Moscow the Third RomeMoscow the Third Rome

State grows to encompass entire Volga regionState grows to encompass entire Volga region Begins to expand to the eastBegins to expand to the east

ColonizationColonization Fur tradeFur trade

China Renewed: The Ming dynasty (est. 1368)China Renewed: The Ming dynasty (est. 1368) Peasant rising in 1351 and instability of Mongol elitePeasant rising in 1351 and instability of Mongol elite Chu Yüanzhang proclaims Ming dynastyChu Yüanzhang proclaims Ming dynasty

Capital moved to NanjingCapital moved to Nanjing Many of the foreign advisors and former government officials Many of the foreign advisors and former government officials

retained.retained. Exam system and ancient traditions restored.Exam system and ancient traditions restored.

Yongle Emperor (r. 1402-1424)Yongle Emperor (r. 1402-1424) Moved capital back to BeijingMoved capital back to Beijing Buildt Forbidden CityBuildt Forbidden City

Voyages of Zheng HeVoyages of Zheng He Muslim eunuch, representative of assimilated old Muslim eunuch, representative of assimilated old

foreign administrationforeign administration Sets out to establish Chinese dominance and gain new Sets out to establish Chinese dominance and gain new

tributary allies for China.tributary allies for China. Increase knowledge of the outside worldIncrease knowledge of the outside world

Massive fleets and ships: 7 voyages between 1404 and Massive fleets and ships: 7 voyages between 1404 and 14331433

Opposition by Confucian elites (loathed commerce)Opposition by Confucian elites (loathed commerce) Voyages ended with Zheng’s death; ships and records Voyages ended with Zheng’s death; ships and records

destroyed.destroyed. Confucian opposition, military threats to the empire, Confucian opposition, military threats to the empire,

and astronomical cost of the voyagesand astronomical cost of the voyages China becomes increasingly inward-looking.China becomes increasingly inward-looking.

Empires in the AmericasEmpires in the Americas Inca in South AmericaInca in South America

Rise of the Inca during late fifteenth Rise of the Inca during late fifteenth centurycentury

Military organization, use of colonies and Military organization, use of colonies and road building to maintain controlroad building to maintain control

Ecological diversity of landEcological diversity of land Precarious naturePrecarious nature

Struggles within the Inca eliteStruggles within the Inca elite Resentment of local populationsResentment of local populations Size of the empire itself: communication Size of the empire itself: communication

problems, economic problems, etc.problems, economic problems, etc.

Aztec (Mexico)Aztec (Mexico) Arose during the fourteenth century.Arose during the fourteenth century. Based on military prowess of the Aztec Based on military prowess of the Aztec

militarymilitary Centered on its capital at Tenochtitlan, built Centered on its capital at Tenochtitlan, built

in the middle of Lake Texcocoin the middle of Lake Texcoco Dependent on tribute from subject peoples, Dependent on tribute from subject peoples,

many of whom deeply resented Aztec rulemany of whom deeply resented Aztec rule Size of the empire led to communication Size of the empire led to communication

problems, risk of collapse if too many problems, risk of collapse if too many tributary states rose at once, etc.tributary states rose at once, etc.

Empires in AfricaEmpires in Africa

EastEast EthiopiaEthiopia Mwene MutapaMwene Mutapa

Both connected into Indian Ocean trade Both connected into Indian Ocean trade systemsystem

WestWest Mali Empire (13th to early 15th century)Mali Empire (13th to early 15th century)

In decline with the rise of SonghayIn decline with the rise of Songhay Wealth in gold, ivory, and slavesWealth in gold, ivory, and slaves

EuropeEurope

PortugalPortugal Hardship of navigation in the AtlanticHardship of navigation in the Atlantic Early exploration of the Atlantic by the PortugueseEarly exploration of the Atlantic by the Portuguese

Role of trial and error in technological Role of trial and error in technological developmentdevelopment

Development of sugar plantationsDevelopment of sugar plantations Development of trade contacts with West African Development of trade contacts with West African

kingdomskingdoms Rounding of Africa in 1488Rounding of Africa in 1488

SpainSpain Christopher ColumbusChristopher Columbus

Voyage of 1492Voyage of 1492

The building of an overseas trading empire The building of an overseas trading empire by the Portuguese was unprecedented in its by the Portuguese was unprecedented in its connection of Europe with the Indian Ocean connection of Europe with the Indian Ocean trading system and was a harbinger of things trading system and was a harbinger of things to come. The empires of sub-Saharan Africa to come. The empires of sub-Saharan Africa and the Americas represented states not and the Americas represented states not unlike earlier ones, though larger in size but unlike earlier ones, though larger in size but still with limited outside contacts and life still with limited outside contacts and life spans. The Ming dynasty restored native spans. The Ming dynasty restored native rule to China and for a time suggestion a rule to China and for a time suggestion a new outward-looking view that might have new outward-looking view that might have challenged European traders coming into the challenged European traders coming into the Indian Ocean, but it turned inward instead – Indian Ocean, but it turned inward instead – the consequences for all were enormous.the consequences for all were enormous.

Today’s QuestionToday’s Question

Modern ecological imperialism?Modern ecological imperialism?

ConsiderConsider

The U.S., with 6% of the world’s population, accounts for The U.S., with 6% of the world’s population, accounts for over 25% of the world’s energy consumption.over 25% of the world’s energy consumption.

This energy profligacy not only drives political policy in the This energy profligacy not only drives political policy in the oil-rich Middle East, but also makes economic growth in the oil-rich Middle East, but also makes economic growth in the less-developed world even more problematic ecologically.less-developed world even more problematic ecologically.

Countries such as Brazil might ask why they should not be Countries such as Brazil might ask why they should not be allowed to exploit their natural resources (such as the allowed to exploit their natural resources (such as the Amazon rain forest) the same way the U.S. exploited its Amazon rain forest) the same way the U.S. exploited its resources earlier.resources earlier.

Does U.S. energy consumption constitute a new ecological Does U.S. energy consumption constitute a new ecological imperialism, forcing the rest of the world to deal with the imperialism, forcing the rest of the world to deal with the impact of the U.S., whether they want to or not?impact of the U.S., whether they want to or not?

Is forcing the consequences of our lifestyle a form of imperial Is forcing the consequences of our lifestyle a form of imperial arrogance?arrogance?