Migrations Migrations in the in the

MediterraneaMediterraneann

THALASSOCRACYTHALASSOCRACY

The word The word ThalassocracyThalassocracy comes from the Greek words comes from the Greek words thalasos, which means sea and kratos, which means power, thalasos, which means sea and kratos, which means power, government. That is to say, it is the government of a government. That is to say, it is the government of a maritime power. The first ones in settling it were the maritime power. The first ones in settling it were the Egyptians and the Phoenicians.Egyptians and the Phoenicians.

The The Phoenicians Phoenicians settled in Canaán, and wanted to settled in Canaán, and wanted to acquire sources of new and profitable supplies of raw acquire sources of new and profitable supplies of raw materials and trade with them. They looked for materials and trade with them. They looked for tintin and and coppercopper, from which they got , from which they got bronzebronze..

Tin Copper Bronze

=

The The Trading Posts Trading Posts were merchants´organizations were merchants´organizations established in the same town in the colonial territory , far established in the same town in the colonial territory , far away from the metropolis.away from the metropolis.

PhoeniciansPhoenicians The control of the means of navigation , the excellent The control of the means of navigation , the excellent

knowledge of the sea, the sea trade and the weather knowledge of the sea, the sea trade and the weather conditions, led the Phoenicians to set an example in the conditions, led the Phoenicians to set an example in the Mediterranean sea.Mediterranean sea.

Greek colonies

In this period the population increased a lot and there were problems to feed In this period the population increased a lot and there were problems to feed everybody. Because of this many peasants emigrated to some other places everybody. Because of this many peasants emigrated to some other places where they could easily survive. Many Greeks settled in the Mediterranean where they could easily survive. Many Greeks settled in the Mediterranean coastal areas . If this was favourable, then they founded a city called colony. coastal areas . If this was favourable, then they founded a city called colony.

In the beginning they founded colonies in the closest territories to Greece.In the beginning they founded colonies in the closest territories to Greece.

Later the expansion went on until Egypt and towards western Mediterranean.Later the expansion went on until Egypt and towards western Mediterranean.

The colonies were independient cities (polis), although they still kept cultural and The colonies were independient cities (polis), although they still kept cultural and economical bonds with the big city (metropolis).These also took advantage of the economical bonds with the big city (metropolis).These also took advantage of the expansion because the colonies became commercial branches which helped the city expansion because the colonies became commercial branches which helped the city trade to develop . trade to develop .

The commerce development enriched tradesmen and craftsmen from the The commerce development enriched tradesmen and craftsmen from the colonies( polis), in this way they could manage to get the political power , until then colonies( polis), in this way they could manage to get the political power , until then controlled by the aristocracy. controlled by the aristocracy.

Thanks to new armaments, which were lighter and cheaper, people could participate Thanks to new armaments, which were lighter and cheaper, people could participate more actively in defending the city ; the” hoplita,” infantry soldier from the lower more actively in defending the city ; the” hoplita,” infantry soldier from the lower class , displaced the warrior on horse, and this reduced military importance to the class , displaced the warrior on horse, and this reduced military importance to the aristocracy, who were not necassary any more to defend the cities( polis )and lost aristocracy, who were not necassary any more to defend the cities( polis )and lost economical and political power.economical and political power.

Roman Empire

With Octavius Augustus a new period known as Empire started. With Octavius Augustus a new period known as Empire started.

This long period can be divided into: This long period can be divided into:

-Roman pax.-Roman pax.

- Crisis and disappearance.- Crisis and disappearance.

ROMAN PAX ROMAN PAX

The emperor had all the power of the republican magistrature. the Empire was organized The emperor had all the power of the republican magistrature. the Empire was organized in provinces administraded by governors. The cities were administrated by some in provinces administraded by governors. The cities were administrated by some civil magistrates. civil magistrates.

A network of roads that started from Rome made communications easy between the A network of roads that started from Rome made communications easy between the different provinces. different provinces.

Finally, to protect the Empire a border was defended by a powerful army.Finally, to protect the Empire a border was defended by a powerful army.

 

THE EMPIRE ECONOMYTHE EMPIRE ECONOMY

The economy of the Empire was based on the agriculture. The territorial expansion The economy of the Empire was based on the agriculture. The territorial expansion influenced greatly in the economical development of the Roman Empire:influenced greatly in the economical development of the Roman Empire:

-The specialization of the provinces.-The specialization of the provinces.

-The development of the commerce.-The development of the commerce.

-The development of the crafts.-The development of the crafts.

Islamic Empire

The obligations advised in Islamism were the beginning of the arabic The obligations advised in Islamism were the beginning of the arabic expansion . The believers´ obligations to take part in the holy war expansion . The believers´ obligations to take part in the holy war to defend their faith encouraged soldiers to enrol in the arabic army to defend their faith encouraged soldiers to enrol in the arabic army and they stopped fighting among them.and they stopped fighting among them.

Arabic soldierArabic soldier

After After Mohammed´sMohammed´s death, their successors, called caliphs, were the ones in charge of death, their successors, called caliphs, were the ones in charge of leading the Islamic people and they had to make sure that both, religion and leading the Islamic people and they had to make sure that both, religion and territory expanded. Muslims expanded their empire by taking possession of territory expanded. Muslims expanded their empire by taking possession of territories that went from the Iberian Peninsula in the West until India in the East.territories that went from the Iberian Peninsula in the West until India in the East.

OrhodoxesOrhodoxes: During their government, Islamism had a well-defined political structure : During their government, Islamism had a well-defined political structure and settled in Syria, and settled in Syria, Persia, , PalestinPalestinee and and EgyptEgypt. .

OmniadsOmniads: During this period Islam annexed the lands in the north of : During this period Islam annexed the lands in the north of África, Spain, the , Spain, the south of Asia Minor and south of Asia Minor and Turkestán until the Indo river. until the Indo river.

AbbasidsAbbasids: During this period the provinces of Córdona, Egypt and Morocco separated : During this period the provinces of Córdona, Egypt and Morocco separated from the central power in Bagdad. from the central power in Bagdad.

Great Figure: Mohammed. Great Figure: Mohammed.

Crown of Aragon

CROWN OF ARAGONCROWN OF ARAGON

- - Llibre del Consolat de Mar, a maritim customs law, , a maritim customs law, was written. Moreover, some companies , one of was written. Moreover, some companies , one of

them the them the catalan-aragonesecatalan-aragonese company was created. company was created.(The almogávares were raiding troops of the (The almogávares were raiding troops of the

Crown of Aragon formed by infantry , active in the formed by infantry , active in the Mediterranean between the Mediterranean between the XIII XIII and and XIV centuries. centuries. And thanks to them, in And thanks to them, in 1380 some territories were some territories were conquered , such as the dukedoms of conquered , such as the dukedoms of Atenas and and Neopatria, that would be under the sovereignty of , that would be under the sovereignty of

Pedro el Ceremonioso for some time. Pedro el Ceremonioso for some time.

COMMERCE XVI-XIX

COMMERCE XVI-XIXCOMMERCE XVI-XIX

·The economical prosperity of this century in the ·The economical prosperity of this century in the Mediterranean ends in 1580 approximately, from now on the Mediterranean ends in 1580 approximately, from now on the crisis will go on untilcrisis will go on untilthe XVIIIth century.the XVIIIth century.·The Mediterranean was the first link between Europe and ·The Mediterranean was the first link between Europe and the East, either by land , or by sea (Red Sea and the Persian the East, either by land , or by sea (Red Sea and the Persian gulf). Its influence is stronger in northern Europe , especially gulf). Its influence is stronger in northern Europe , especially due to the link North-South, that takes place in the due to the link North-South, that takes place in the Mediterranean and reaches Flanders and the North sea.Mediterranean and reaches Flanders and the North sea.·The products that are traded in the Mediterranean are:·The products that are traded in the Mediterranean are:

1- Supplying commerce: food, mainly. Salt trade is very 1- Supplying commerce: food, mainly. Salt trade is very important and there are productive areas in Cyprus and the important and there are productive areas in Cyprus and the

Iberian Iberian Peninsula.Peninsula.

2- Spice trade : monopolized in the XVIth c. by Genoeses 2- Spice trade : monopolized in the XVIth c. by Genoeses and Venetians. The spices were used as and Venetians. The spices were used as

preservatives and in pharmacopoeia . Pepper for example, preservatives and in pharmacopoeia . Pepper for example, mostly came from Indonesia .mostly came from Indonesia .

3- Products related to the spices trade: that is to say, silk, 3- Products related to the spices trade: that is to say, silk, porcelain and precious stones. porcelain and precious stones.

Byzantine CommerceByzantine Commerce Due to its geographical situation, the Byzantine empire was a necessary Due to its geographical situation, the Byzantine empire was a necessary

intermediary between the East and the Mediterranean until the VIIth intermediary between the East and the Mediterranean until the VIIth c., by then Islam seized the meridional provinces of the Empire. The c., by then Islam seized the meridional provinces of the Empire. The position of the capital was especially important because it controlled position of the capital was especially important because it controlled the route from Europe to the route from Europe to Asia, and , and the Straits of Bosporous, the , the international trade in the Mediterranean (from there you could reach international trade in the Mediterranean (from there you could reach Western Europe )and the Western Europe )and the Black Sea Black Sea (it connected the North of Europe (it connected the North of Europe and Russia). and Russia).

There were three main routes which linked the There were three main routes which linked the Mediterraneanean and the and the Far EastFar East::

The shortest route went through The shortest route went through Persia, and , and Central AsiaAsia ((Samarkanda, , Bujara). It is known as ). It is known as Silk route Silk route . .

A second route , much harder , avoided Persia, and went across the A second route , much harder , avoided Persia, and went across the Black Sea, through the harbours of Black Sea, through the harbours of Crimea, to the , to the CaspianCaspian, and from , and from there to Central Asia. This route was opened at the time of there to Central Asia. This route was opened at the time of Justin II. .

By sea, from the Egyptian coast , across the By sea, from the Egyptian coast , across the Red Sea Red Sea and the and the Indian Indian OceanOcean, taking advantage of the , taking advantage of the monsoons, until , until Sri Lanka. The . The Byzantine commerce didn´t use this route any more when in the VIIth c. Byzantine commerce didn´t use this route any more when in the VIIth c. the meridional provinces of the Empire were lost .the meridional provinces of the Empire were lost .

The Byzantine commerce decayed in the XIth and XIIth centuries, The Byzantine commerce decayed in the XIth and XIIth centuries, because of the ruinous concessions given to because of the ruinous concessions given to VeniceVenice, and to , and to Genoa and and Pisa..

An important factor in the economy of the Empire was its An important factor in the economy of the Empire was its currencycurrency, the , the byzantine solidus byzantine solidus and the and the besantbesant, widely known in the commerce of the , widely known in the commerce of the time .time .

VENICEVENICEThe Venetians created a huge maritim empire that covered : Veneto, Friuli, The Venetians created a huge maritim empire that covered : Veneto, Friuli,

part of part of LombardyLombardy, Istria, , Istria, Dalmatia ( (Croatia), Montenegro, ), Montenegro, AlbanyAlbany, Corfú and , Corfú and the the IonicIonic IslandsIslands, Morea (the Greek , Morea (the Greek PeloponnesePeloponnese), Athens, Negroponte, the ), Athens, Negroponte, the northern northern Aegean Islands ,Aegean Islands , Cyclades islands, Cyclades islands, Dodecanese Dodecanese (among them (among them Rhodes), Rhodes), CreteCrete and and CyprusCyprus..

This great mediterranean empire covered the This great mediterranean empire covered the Adriatic Adriatic, , IonicIonic and and AegeanAegean seas and lasted from 1200-1700, due to: seas and lasted from 1200-1700, due to:

- The invincible Venetian navy- The invincible Venetian navy- The efficient Venetian army- The efficient Venetian army- The Swiss German mercenaries- The Swiss German mercenaries- The Venetian generals and commanders- The Venetian generals and commanders- The Venetian intelligence, spies and diplomats - The Venetian intelligence, spies and diplomats - The riches from the East and West , the treasure of- The riches from the East and West , the treasure of Byzantium Byzantium and the and the

Greek erudites.Greek erudites.- Being one of the most important catholic, orthodox, jewish and armenian - Being one of the most important catholic, orthodox, jewish and armenian

pilgrimage places.pilgrimage places.

Commerce in VeniceCommerce in Venice

Venetians controlled commerce until the XVIth century. At the beginning Venetians controlled commerce until the XVIth century. At the beginning of the XVth century the spice commerce made 540.000 ducades annually. of the XVth century the spice commerce made 540.000 ducades annually. Venice traded mainly with Egypt .Venice traded mainly with Egypt .

Venetians were shipowners .At the beginning of the XVth century,3.000 Venetians were shipowners .At the beginning of the XVth century,3.000 merchant boats sailed under the venetian flag , most of them devoted to merchant boats sailed under the venetian flag , most of them devoted to coastal trade and fishing. coastal trade and fishing.

The capture ofThe capture of Byzantium Byzantium by the by the TurkishTurkish, the routes that Portugal , the routes that Portugal discovered thanks to discovered thanks to Henry the Navigator Henry the Navigator (1415-1461) and the discovery (1415-1461) and the discovery of Columbus were a setback for the Venetian commerce . of Columbus were a setback for the Venetian commerce .

Current reasons

forcedforced

Poverty

slavery

Political

Religious

voluntaryvoluntary

Leisure

tourism

commerce