Journal 5

Kyle Anderson

Journal 5 

     This Week we read chapter 14, 15, and 16 from our text book. I am going to start with chapter 14 which began talking about how the European empires expanded into the Americas and why the other major empires of the world did not. The author also explained how this move sort of kick started the early modern era which lasted approximately 1450 to 1750. In fact Strayer best puts this by saying the colonization of america “was revolutionary encounter with implications that extended far beyond the Americas themselves” (Strayer 2009 p. 404). In fact, one such implication was the start of slave trade as well as trade of other items form Africa and Europe to the colonies. As a result, The Europeans were taking control of the americas and the sea routes in the Atlantic. However as the Europeans were developing America, Russian Empire was also subsequently beginning to take shape. A small Russian State was breaking free from Mongol rule and eventually causing the creation of the worlds largest state. As the Russian began to solidify there Empire so to did china. The Qing or Manchu Dynasty was undertaking the imperial expansion of China, enlarging its size as an empire and thus incorporating more non-Chinese natives into the empire. Also during this time an empire began to take shape in Middle East, North Africa, and Southeastern Europe. The empire,  “The Ottoman State was transformed from a small frontier principality to a prosperous, powerful, cosmopolitan empire, heir to both the Byzantine Empire and to Leadership within the Islamic world” (Strayer 2009 p. 425). 

     Chapter 15 talked about global commerce and how many empires and civilizations were expanding trade and creating the foundations for the early world economy and globalization. The Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, English and Asians were some of the major countries that helped the spread of this global commerce during the early modern era. Gold, sliver, spice, agriculture and fur were some of the major products that fueled the need for a global commerce. In fact, “enormous quantities of Furs and deerskins found their way to Europe, where they considerably enhanced the standard of living in those cold climates” (Strayer 2009 p. 445). Not only were these items a part of the commerce but the trading of slaves became a major commodity  of this time, contributing to the globalization of trade and commerce. However, despite the good that came from the expansion of a global commerce, trading of slaves actually dropped a large percentage of the world’s population. 

     Chapter 16 talked about how religion specifically christianity became more globalized as a result of the colonization of the americas and the expansion of global commerce. Religion, also gave Europeans a propose to expanding and spreading outward. During this expansion of religion the Protestants started breaking away from there catholic counter parts. As a result the catholics started reaffirm their doctrines and practices to solidify their beliefs and differences form the Protestants. Even though, Religion was expanding specifically christianity, so to was the ideas of modern science. Many Scholars and philosophers Had been already discovering the ideas behind modern science but was made more popular through the novel techniques of printing and book-making. This scientific idea began to challenge the church and it ideas. It was a revolutionary way of thinking. Strayer put it best by eloquently saying that “the new approach to knowledge-rooted in human reason, skeptical of authority, expressed in natural laws-was now applied to human affairs, not just the physical universe” (Strayer 2009 p. 482).   

Reference

Strayer W. Robert. (2009). Ways of the world: A brief global history. Boston, MA: Bedford/St.