Globalizing Networks of Communication and Exchange

Main Idea: connecting the Eastern and Western hemispheres changed everything! Global networks shake up the old trade routes Technology is key Everybody’s in the game Europe becomes the major player The Columbian Exchange Religions spread and change Reflections in art

1- Global networks shake up the old trade routes

From the “new world” would come new products

They were traded on the old trade routes, too

Some benefit, some lose out

2- Technology is key

Europeans suddenly can go ANYWHERE. How? Collecting and expanding knowledge of

Classical Europe, Islamic Empires, Asia New Technology: tools (astrolabe), ship

designs (caravels) Better understanding of the environment:

global wind and ocean currents

3- Everybody’s in the game

China: Admiral Zheng He leads massive fleets to SE Asia, Africa… and beyond?

Portugal: starts a school of navigation, travel and trade to West Africa, begins empire.

Spain: sponsors Columbus and others to cross Atlantic and Pacific

Northern Europe looks for NW Passage Polynesians connect the dots in South

Pacific

4- Europe becomes the major player

In Asia, they take over Indian Ocean shipping Silver from N&S America becomes the global

currency Mercantilism: the Joint-Stock Company

Control domestic and colonial economies Countries use them to compete

The Atlantic System: moving resources, products, and people, connecting East & West

5- The Columbian Exchange European colonization of the Americas.

Effects: Spread of Europe diseases: small pox, measles, flu American foods to Old World: potato, corn, tomato Cash Crop Colonies: sugar in Brazil, Caribbean;

tobacco in North America. Europeans bring grains and domestic animals

(horse, cow, pig) to Americas. African slaves bring important foods (rice, okra). Old world population boom from new world foods Environmental problems in the new world

6- Religions spread and change

Islam continues to spread in Africa & Asia Adapted to local cultures Sunni – Shia split intensifies

Christianity spread to New World Diversified by diffusion and reformation

Syncretic and new forms of religion developed Voodoo in Caribbean Cult of the Saints in Latin America

7-Reflections in art

Merchants made profits, governments collected taxes, money for the arts increased

Literacy expanded, popular authors Shakespeare, Cervantes