The Material World in 1400The Material World in 1400 The “Biological Old Regime”, an over-The “Biological Old Regime”, an over-

whelmingly agricultural world where 80% of whelmingly agricultural world where 80% of the population were peasants, people who the population were peasants, people who lived on the land and were the direct lived on the land and were the direct producers of food for themselves and the rest producers of food for themselves and the rest of the population. The availability of land to of the population. The availability of land to produce food was a constant constraint on the produce food was a constant constraint on the number of people alive at any given time. number of people alive at any given time. Climate change had a considerable effect on Climate change had a considerable effect on population since climate affects the number of population since climate affects the number of people that agriculture could support.people that agriculture could support.

Population of EuropePopulation of Europe

Densely Populated Regions in 1400Densely Populated Regions in 1400

Of the 350 million people alive in 1400, most Of the 350 million people alive in 1400, most lived on just 4.25 million sq miles (7% of total)lived on just 4.25 million sq miles (7% of total)

A few highly developed civilizations existed: A few highly developed civilizations existed: (with just 3 accounting for 70% of pop.)(with just 3 accounting for 70% of pop.)

Today, 70% of people live in that same areaToday, 70% of people live in that same area1)1) JapanJapan 6)6) India India2)2) KoreaKorea 7)7) Islamic West Asia Islamic West Asia3)3) ChinaChina 8)8) Europe Europe4)4) IndonesiaIndonesia 9)9) Aztec Aztec5)5) IndochinaIndochina 10)10) Inca Inca

Agricultural Revolution involved the Agricultural Revolution involved the domestication of animalsdomestication of animals

10,000-9,000 B.C. (Mesopotamia & Canaan) D. of dogs 9,000-8,000 B.C. (Iran & Afghanistan) D. of goats and sheep; (Canaan) D. of emmer wheat and barley

8,000-7,000 B.C. (Peru) D. of potatoes and beans, (Indonesia) rice and (North America) pumpkins

7,000-6,000 B.C. (East Asia & China) D. of pig and water buffalo, (South Asia) chicken, (Turkey) cows, (Syria) einkorn wheat, (Turkey) macaroni, (New Guinea) sugarcane, (Indonesia) yams, bananas and coconuts, (Asia) flax, and (Mexico) maize and peppers; (Egypt) beer first made from yeast

3,000 B.C. (Iran) Breeding records of domesticated donkeys recorded on stone tablets

Three major professions in 1400Three major professions in 1400

Agriculturist- produce the food and the surplusAgriculturist- produce the food and the surplus Priest- explain how and why the world came to Priest- explain how and why the world came to

exist in the first placeexist in the first place Ruler- protect the surplus food from invading Ruler- protect the surplus food from invading

outsidersoutsiders The last two classes did not have to live near The last two classes did not have to live near

the fields and gathered artisans around them the fields and gathered artisans around them who could produce clothing, weapons, who could produce clothing, weapons, buildings, etc. - the first cities.buildings, etc. - the first cities.

Warfare and TradeWarfare and Trade Cities, along with their surrounding agricultural Cities, along with their surrounding agricultural

area, were not self-sufficient.area, were not self-sufficient. People traded with other cities for raw materials People traded with other cities for raw materials

or for animals.or for animals. If the required goods were strategic, the rulers If the required goods were strategic, the rulers

tended to secure these by bringing the tended to secure these by bringing the producing region under their control- creating producing region under their control- creating the first empires.the first empires.

Empires are geographically large political units Empires are geographically large political units ruled and controlled by a single ruling elite.ruled and controlled by a single ruling elite.

Top 10 Cities in 1500Top 10 Cities in 1500

NameName PopulationPopulation1) Beijing, China1) Beijing, China 672,000672,0002) Vijayanagar, India2) Vijayanagar, India 500,000500,0003) Cairo, Egypt3) Cairo, Egypt 400,000400,0004) Hangzhou, China4) Hangzhou, China 250,000250,0005) Tabriz, Iran5) Tabriz, Iran 250,000250,0006) Constantinople, Turkey6) Constantinople, Turkey 200,000200,0007) Gaur, India7) Gaur, India 200,000200,0008) Paris, France8) Paris, France 185,000185,0009) Guangzhou, China9) Guangzhou, China 150,000150,00010) Nanjing, China10) Nanjing, China 147,000147,000

Top 10 Cities in 2010Top 10 Cities in 20101)1) Shanghai, ChinaShanghai, China 13.813.8

2)2) Mumbai, IndiaMumbai, India 13.813.83)3) Karachi, PakistanKarachi, Pakistan 13.013.0

4)4) Delhi, IndiaDelhi, India 12.612.65)5) Istanbul, TurkeyIstanbul, Turkey 12.512.56)6) Sao Paulo, BrazilSao Paulo, Brazil 11.211.27)7) Moscow, RussiaMoscow, Russia 10.610.6

8)8) Seoul, KoreaSeoul, Korea 10.510.59)9) Beijing, ChinaBeijing, China 10.110.110)10) Jakarta, IndonesiaJakarta, Indonesia 9.6 9.6

millions

Top 10 metro areas in 2010Top 10 metro areas in 20101)1) Tokyo, JapanTokyo, Japan 32.532.52)2) Seoul, KoreaSeoul, Korea 20.620.63)3) Mexico City, MexicoMexico City, Mexico 20.520.54)4) New York City, U.S.New York City, U.S. 19.819.85)5) Mumbai, IndiaMumbai, India 19.219.26)6) Jakarta, IndonesiaJakarta, Indonesia 18.918.9

7)7) Sao Paulo, BrazilSao Paulo, Brazil 18.918.98)8) Delhi, IndiaDelhi, India 18.618.6

9)9) Osaka, JapanOsaka, Japan 17.317.310)10) Shanghai, ChinaShanghai, China 16.716.7

NomadsNomads The Eurasian steppe is a great grassland The Eurasian steppe is a great grassland

which stretches across the continent.which stretches across the continent. Since it is not amenable to agriculture, people Since it is not amenable to agriculture, people

living there has to obtain a living by hunting living there has to obtain a living by hunting and gathering and following herds.and gathering and following herds.

Generally, these people had a peaceful and Generally, these people had a peaceful and symbiotic relationship with those in the cities.symbiotic relationship with those in the cities.

However, when climate changes altered their However, when climate changes altered their food supply, nomads would often raid that food supply, nomads would often raid that found in the cities.found in the cities.

The Roman and Han Chinese Empires fell, in The Roman and Han Chinese Empires fell, in part, due to nomadic raids.part, due to nomadic raids.

WildlifeWildlife Humans and wildlife generally have an inverse Humans and wildlife generally have an inverse

relationship.relationship. When food supply runs short, wildlife can clash When food supply runs short, wildlife can clash

with humans (wolves in Europe, tigers in with humans (wolves in Europe, tigers in China).China).

Human civilizations also developed a desire for Human civilizations also developed a desire for wearing furs, for eating exotic dishes, as well wearing furs, for eating exotic dishes, as well as for hunting for sport.as for hunting for sport.

Wildlife populations rebounded each time the Wildlife populations rebounded each time the human population fell, but have been human population fell, but have been decreasing since the mid-1700s.decreasing since the mid-1700s.

Population IncreasePopulation Increase ““An increase in human numbers is an An increase in human numbers is an

indication of our success in obtaining greater indication of our success in obtaining greater food energy from our ecosystem”.food energy from our ecosystem”.

Additional food could be obtained in 3 ways:Additional food could be obtained in 3 ways:1)1) Bringing more land under cultivationBringing more land under cultivation2)2) Increasing the labor inputs on a fieldIncreasing the labor inputs on a field3)3) Increasing the amount of water or fertilizerIncreasing the amount of water or fertilizerThe first step involved human migration to newThe first step involved human migration to newlands as well as displacing the indigenouslands as well as displacing the indigenouspeoples/ wildlife.peoples/ wildlife.

PeasantsPeasants In order to live without producing food, rulers In order to live without producing food, rulers

charged agriculturists taxes (as much as 1/2 of charged agriculturists taxes (as much as 1/2 of their harvest).their harvest).

During times of harvest short-fall, these rulers During times of harvest short-fall, these rulers could choose to lower taxes or keep them high.could choose to lower taxes or keep them high.

Peasants would sometimes revolt if they Peasants would sometimes revolt if they perceived that they were being treated unfairly.perceived that they were being treated unfairly.

Whether they did so depended on 1) the Whether they did so depended on 1) the military might of the rulers and 2) the military might of the rulers and 2) the organization of peasant communities.organization of peasant communities.

Peasant RevoltsPeasant Revolts

Japan- over 3000 instances between 1590 Japan- over 3000 instances between 1590 and 1871.and 1871.

China- fewer but larger-scale (mid-1600s China- fewer but larger-scale (mid-1600s and mid-1800s).and mid-1800s).

France- French Revolution of 1789.France- French Revolution of 1789. Revolts took place in England, Germany Revolts took place in England, Germany

and Italy as well.and Italy as well.

World Trading SystemsWorld Trading Systems Three interconnected subsystems of trade Three interconnected subsystems of trade

existed in 1400existed in 14001)1) East Asian: linked China & Southeast Asia to East Asian: linked China & Southeast Asia to

India (Chinese)India (Chinese)2)2) Middle East-Mongolian: linked eastern Middle East-Mongolian: linked eastern

Mediterranean to central Asia & India (Arabs)Mediterranean to central Asia & India (Arabs)3)3) European: linked Europe to the Middle East European: linked Europe to the Middle East

and the Indian Ocean (Italians)and the Indian Ocean (Italians) Three main trade routes existed which all Three main trade routes existed which all

terminated in the eastern Mediterraneanterminated in the eastern Mediterranean

Eurasian Trade RoutesEurasian Trade Routes

The Bubonic PlagueThe Bubonic Plague The trading systems served to spread more The trading systems served to spread more

than merchandise throughout the world.than merchandise throughout the world. In the mid- to late 1300s, the “Black Death” was In the mid- to late 1300s, the “Black Death” was

spread throughout the known world. spread throughout the known world. The fact that is spread so fast is an example of The fact that is spread so fast is an example of

a historical conjuncture.a historical conjuncture. Plague is caused by the bacterium Yersinia Plague is caused by the bacterium Yersinia

pestis.pestis. This bacteria is passed from rodents, to fleas, This bacteria is passed from rodents, to fleas,

to humans which are bitten by the fleas.to humans which are bitten by the fleas.

Spread of the PlagueSpread of the Plague

The bacteria was endemic to burrowing rodents The bacteria was endemic to burrowing rodents in southwestern China but was not originally in southwestern China but was not originally spread to humans since the Chinese avoided spread to humans since the Chinese avoided the rodents.the rodents.

Mongol troops, however, spread the fleas into Mongol troops, however, spread the fleas into more populated parts of China, causing an more populated parts of China, causing an epidemic in 1331.epidemic in 1331.

Mongol riders transmitting messages across Mongol riders transmitting messages across the steppe apparently spread the plague to the the steppe apparently spread the plague to the rodents that lived throughout this arearodents that lived throughout this area

Westward BoundWestward Bound

Soon, Mongol troops who had besieged the Soon, Mongol troops who had besieged the city of Caffa (now Feodosiya, Ukrane) city of Caffa (now Feodosiya, Ukrane) became ill and were forced to withdraw.became ill and were forced to withdraw.

Caffa was the link between the trans-Eurasian Caffa was the link between the trans-Eurasian trade routes, it was the western terminus of trade routes, it was the western terminus of the caravans from China as well as the the caravans from China as well as the eastern-most port for ships from Italy.eastern-most port for ships from Italy.

Plague in EuropePlague in Europe Fleas, rats, and/or infected Italians were then Fleas, rats, and/or infected Italians were then

transported to Italy in 1346.transported to Italy in 1346. Europeans had begun to co-exist with the Europeans had begun to co-exist with the

black rat, which typically lived in attics.black rat, which typically lived in attics. The bacteria soon spread to this host, which The bacteria soon spread to this host, which

spread the disease throughout Europe in a spread the disease throughout Europe in a few short years.few short years.

20 million people died in Europe, as did 35 20 million people died in Europe, as did 35 million in China (from both disease and war), million in China (from both disease and war), with comparable numbers dead in other with comparable numbers dead in other regions.regions.