Social Changes and Continuities in the World, 1500-1800 C.E.

By Nicole Simineri, Courtney, Pasquale Montemarano, Milton Su, and Jason Woo

AP World History – Period 7

East AsiaChina Followed the Confucian hierarchy Emperor was considered “Son of Heaven” Peasants considered “honorable” Merchants considered “social parasites” Highly patriarchal, especially in Ming and Qing Women encouraged to follow husband to the grave Foot-Binding reemerges

Japan Followed similar Confucian hierarchy Feudal system; patriarchal society Emperor nothing than a figurehead

EmperorShogunDaimyoSamuraiPeasants

Artisans/WorkersMerchants

EmperorScholar Bureaucrats

GentryPeasants

Artisans/WorkersMerchants

Change: As the commercial economy expands, merchants and artisans become more prominent, wealthy, and powerful

Continuity: Confucian hierarchy with merchants at the bottom because of precept that trade = selfishness

Centralized imperial rule and patriarchal society persist

Latin America Europeans flowed into the Americas, but few women came

because Spanish and Portuguese came explicitly for commercial opportunities.

Mixture of peoples of different ancestries = mestizo society

Mestizo: person of European and Native American parents

Mulattoes: person of European and African parents

Zambos: person of Native American and African parents.

PeninsularesCreoles

Mestizos/MulattoesZambos

Slaves and conqueredpeoples

Change: Europeans, Africans, and Native Americans begin to intermix, leading to a

mestizo population like never before

These Euro-American peoples of mixed ancestries become a big part of society and

social status becomes based on race.

Continuity: Europeans continue to dominate in the Americas.

Food from the Americas = better diet and health = population growth

Urban artisans are used less and the countryside is used more as capitalism develops (putting-out system)

Witch-hunting Individuals get more income = become

independent from their families Nuclear family Love between a man and woman

Capitalism brings wealth to rural communities and changes rural lifestyles

Feudal system: landlords force peasants to work

Peasants tied to large estates owned by nobles as serfs

Change: Religious and social tensions led to witch-hunting – targeted women.

Population growth, urbanization, and capitalism = more wealth so families become independent and focus on nuclear family.

Decline of feudalism and rule of monarchs

Continuity: Society still patriarchal.

Western Europe Eastern Europe

Change: Rural societies gain wealth and become a major source of raw materials, which promotoes capitalism.

Continuity: Feudal system and serfdom

Middle East Steppe traditions persist Emperors did what they pleased Violence within the ruling elites Patriarchal: women should have no

role in public affairs or politics However, women play important

roles in managing the empire Slave troops from Christian

populations = Janissaries Jizya –tax paid by protected peoples

Kinship groups are basis of social and sometimes political organization

Raids = Africans, even free ones, are captured and enslaved

American crops = population growth Slave trade = population loss Many men enslaved = unbalanced

African sex ratios Polygamy and women take on men’s

responsibilities

Sub Saharan Africa

Change: Coffeehouses, leading to tensions between men and women.

Women help to manage the empire and certain women get privileges.

Continuity: Society remains patriarchal and steppe traditions persist.

Change: Women take on manly responsibilities because of the decline in the number of men.

Polygamy is encouraged due to lack of men

As the slave trade expands, even free Africans become forced into slavery.

Continuity: Kinship groups and clans are basis of social/political organization.

South Asia (India) Indian caste system: brahmins at the top,

untouchables at the bottom

Social status supported by religious

beliefs in karma and reincarnation

Patriarchal society

Suppression of sati (widow suicide), especially under Mughal reign

Muslims integrated into caste system = jati

Change: Muslims become integrated into the caste system, forming subcastes called jati.

The Mughals suppress sati, which is suicide committed by a widow either voluntarily or by force. It was outlawed in 1829.

Continuity: The caste system, supported by religious beliefs in karma and reincarnation, and patriarchal society persists.

Compare & Contrast

Compare: Merchants are increasingly gaining

power and becoming more prominent. Both benefit from the growing

commercial market

East Asia: Even though they’re gaining power,

merchants still have low status and government does not enter into partnerships with them – favor political and social stability.

Extended family; contractual marriage Highly patriarchal: foot binding Rejects foreigners; prefer isolation Centralized, imperial rule

Western Europe Merchants have very high status and

government officials make mutualistic partnerships with merchants

Nuclear family; love between a man and woman and parents and child

Patriarchal standards loosen: chivalry, women work in guilds, sponsor salons

Expands and encourages contact with foreigners

Competing, sovereign states