Slavery and New Frontiers

Romans of course had slavery: How was it different from what Americans think of as slavery?

By 800’s Europe had moved to a serf system rather than purchasing more slaves. They just made them part of

the land they owned.

Were used for: skilled workershouse laborconcubineslittle friends for rich kids!

As plague killed off population, Italians reintroduced slavery

From Slavic areas (Slave) and Africans

By 1400’s Italians free their slaves for humanitarian reasons even though Venice had become wealthy from the trade

Contributing also to Italy ending trade:*Turks had blocked access to black Sea so Eastern Europe access blocked

But then…*Portugese take over the trade and it is based in Africa

As frontiers change, the treatment of the minorities change

• At first movement in Europe to escape plague led to legal dualism

• Great example would be the Mudejars in Spain, the Muslim subjects of Christian monarchs.

• Allowed to be judged under Muslim law.

English are exception to the rule with the Irish• Harsh discrimination in society• No wills• No felony for murder of Irishman

Legal Dualism ends because of competition for church and government positions as areas rebuild in 1400’s and behave more

like developing nations

• Blood line and language begin to matter• Racism emerges in areas which had coexisted• East Europe: Damlimil Chronicle• Ireland: Statute of Kilkenny• German purity concept to not mix with

marriage and to gain top jobs• Spain against Mudejars and Jews

With exploration racism grows in colonial territories

Motivation to explore

• Economic: precious metals and spices and new areas of trade. Because Turks were blocking route to the East they were looking for a quicker way to go East.

Religion• Henry the Navigator was interested in

“desire to make increase in the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ and to bring him all the souls that should be saved”

• Cortes taking Mexico believed it was their duty to ensure that Mexicans “are introduced into and instructed in The holy Catholic faith”

Because they could• European monarchs had more money and more

authority by 15th to 16th Century and were looking to expand and able to fund

Technology

• Maps getting better as more voyages went on.• Technology better with the rudder from China,

caravels were smaller and faster, compass and astrolabe, better understanding of the winds

It was easy…relatively• Technology

Invited as gods

Smallpox

Use of allies since neighbors hated Aztecs for obvious reasons

Racism, Schism, Exploration, War feeds into efforts at centralization of Empire

• England• Spain• France• Holy Roman Empire…good luck• Italy doesn’t and weakens itself in the process

EnglandCentralized under monarch by 1500

• Henry VII appealed to a minute middle class to control peasants and aristocrats. Used the Star Chamber to silence nobles, the royal council to administer national policy and unpaid justices of the peace to control local government.

• Provided stability which allowed for trade which made the middle class happy. Avoided war which bypassed Parliament since didn’t need to ask for money. Unknowingly this will pave the road for a more powerful House of Commons, weaker king and nobles and growing industrial global economy.

SpainNot centralized until 1700

• Ferdinand and Isabella also had a council of middle class which served the same purpose as England’s royal council.

• Also had justices of peace called hermandades to control the local governments.

• Negotiated with the pope to have the power to appoint bishops in Spain which enriched the monarchy and allowed them to expel Jews and Muslims. At first allowed “New Christians” then got more fanatical (inquisition)

• Unknowingly this will harm the economy and government as skilled people are lost.

FranceCentralized around 1500

• Charles VII and then Louis XI also had a council of middle class which served the same purpose as England’s and France’s royal council.

• Pragmatic Sanction of Bourges gave French crown control and wealth over the Church.

• Gabelle and taille raised taxes on salt and land.• An army paid for with increased trade and high taxes

controlled the peasants.• Unknowingly set the stage for the French Revolution

where a lot of angry middle class and peasant folks rise up against the monarchy for more economic and political control.

Holy Roman Empire

• Confusing. Can’t unify. Too big. Does split between Spain and Central Europe so Spain centralizes but Central Europe continues to fall apart, even more so once Protestants happen.

Italy

• Used the same tactics as other nations but were city-states and competed against each other for territory including the Pope.

• Did try to maintain a balance of power by ganging up on each other if one city looked too powerful.

• This situation was very inviting to foreigners so France and Austria take their lands. (Habsburg-Valois wars)

• Won’t unify until 1870