The Significance of The Significance of 14921492

Instructor PacasInstructor Pacas

The Significance of 1492The Significance of 1492• Prior to 1492 the region of Africa and Prior to 1492 the region of Africa and

Eurasia, though enjoying considerable Eurasia, though enjoying considerable contact due to the Crusades and contact due to the Crusades and Mongol conquest, were polities Mongol conquest, were polities consciously defined by their territorial consciously defined by their territorial (land) limits.(land) limits.

• The world’s oceans were limit zones, The world’s oceans were limit zones, borders that hampered expansion borders that hampered expansion instead of ease trans-oceanic contact.instead of ease trans-oceanic contact.

Cont’dCont’d• The ‘world’ view was limited in a sense-the The ‘world’ view was limited in a sense-the

limits of which were clearly marked by the limits of which were clearly marked by the world’s oceans.world’s oceans.

• 1492 ushered a new perception of the 1492 ushered a new perception of the world- what we can truly call a global world- what we can truly call a global perspective.perspective.

• Different bodies of land and water all inter-Different bodies of land and water all inter-connected.connected.

• The Atlantic was no longer a barrier of The Atlantic was no longer a barrier of contact but a facilitator of contact.contact but a facilitator of contact.

The Atlantic Ocean and the Transformation of The Atlantic Ocean and the Transformation of EuropeEurope

Mediterranean World and Asia circa 1400 CEMediterranean World and Asia circa 1400 CE

Since the 11th century Spain and other Since the 11th century Spain and other European polities at war with fellow European polities at war with fellow Christians and Muslims in Europe and Africa.Christians and Muslims in Europe and Africa.

In 1453 the Ottoman Empire conquered In 1453 the Ottoman Empire conquered Constantinople.Constantinople.

Europe could still trade with Asia via the Europe could still trade with Asia via the Ottoman state.Ottoman state.

Many European city states wished to find Many European city states wished to find direct trade routes to the east and eliminate direct trade routes to the east and eliminate the Ottoman middle man.the Ottoman middle man.

Cont’dCont’d African and Asian technology allowed African and Asian technology allowed

improved navigation skills utilized by improved navigation skills utilized by European Mediterranean kingdoms.European Mediterranean kingdoms.

The European primary motivation for The European primary motivation for exploration was profit- trade.exploration was profit- trade.

It was the re-discovery of America It was the re-discovery of America and its wealth that tipped the scales and its wealth that tipped the scales of power in favor of Europe. of power in favor of Europe.

A New WorldA New WorldThe Trans-Atlantic Contact and Inter-cultural ExchangeThe Trans-Atlantic Contact and Inter-cultural Exchange

How did improved navigation skills, the How did improved navigation skills, the Atlantic and the natural resources of Atlantic and the natural resources of the Americas transform Europe into a the Americas transform Europe into a world power? world power?

Cont’dCont’d The wealth from the Americas financed European The wealth from the Americas financed European

expansion - through trade and military ventures. expansion - through trade and military ventures.

The wealth of America was a monopoly held by The wealth of America was a monopoly held by competing European nations.competing European nations.

It was exclusively held by European/Christians and It was exclusively held by European/Christians and by no other civilizations of the ‘Old World.’by no other civilizations of the ‘Old World.’

How did this fact transform Europe into a world How did this fact transform Europe into a world power?power?

A New World PowerA New World Power

In 1350 the Black Death claimed many lives in In 1350 the Black Death claimed many lives in Europe.Europe.

The discovery of America ushered a period of The discovery of America ushered a period of population growth in Europe.population growth in Europe.

Europe enjoyed healthier diets from foodstuff of the Europe enjoyed healthier diets from foodstuff of the Americas.Americas.

Economically European nations were strengthened.Economically European nations were strengthened.

Social pressures caused by rapid population growth Social pressures caused by rapid population growth and poverty could be channeled into military or and poverty could be channeled into military or colonial ventures.colonial ventures.

Cont’dCont’d

This caused relative stability perhaps never enjoyed This caused relative stability perhaps never enjoyed before in Europe.before in Europe.

Europe able to consolidate its collective power.Europe able to consolidate its collective power.

This is not to say that Europe enjoyed peace within This is not to say that Europe enjoyed peace within the continent.the continent.

But many social pressures that could explode into But many social pressures that could explode into civil strife had alternate means to be deflected.civil strife had alternate means to be deflected.