Timelines of Modern World History - Assignment Example

Modern World History Study Questions Question The early-modern era (1500-1800) was “an age of empires”. The three non-European empires the book identifies include Mughal Empire, Safavid Empire and Songhai Empire. The Mughal (Mongol) Empire (1526-1707) originated from Turkic-Mongol – a Muslim dynasty. The Mughal dynasty ruled virtually all parts of northern India between the 16th and 18th centuries. Founded by Babur (a Chagatai Turkic Prince), the dynasty successfully maintained a record of unusual talent for their administrative skills and organization. Dynastic warfare and factional rivalries led to breaking up of Mughal Empire during Muhammad Shah’s reign (1719-1748). Safavid Empire (1502-1736), on the other hand, was a key ruling dynasty of Persia –the modern Iraq. The dynasty marked the beginning of the history of modern Persia (Strayer, 15). The Twelver school of Shi’a Islam was the empire’s official religion. Safavid succumbed to hasty collapse in 1722. The dynasty experienced a short restoration between 1729 and 1736 after ruling successfully between 1501 and 1722. The Empire controlled nearly all parts of modern Iraq, Armenia, Bahrain, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, and Kuwait. Songhai Empire dominated mainly the western Sahel between 15th and 16th century. The empire was among the largest in both African and Islamic history (Strayer, 21). The ruling ethnic group was entirely the Songhai people. Apart from Gao (the capital), other key cities under the empire include Djenne and Timbuktu. In summary, Songhai rulers took advantage of the weakening Mali Empire to reassert control of Gao and further expand Songhai rule. Askia’s successors plotted a series of coups that led to instability and a period of decline. Question 2 The dawn of modern world history and the Colombian exchange involved the discovery of the Americas in the Western world. The Colombian Exchange was among the most critical and establishing events of the modern world. The dawn of modern world history and the Colombian exchange was also the beginning of the era of global trade. In particular, the exchange focuses on the history of the Americas in the pre-Colombian era. Apparently, the animal, bacterial, and plant life of the Americas and Afro-Eurasia began to mix after Christopher Columbus arrived in the Americas (Strayer, 27). The Colombian Exchange had dramatic effects on the world. For instance, it led to the introduction of new diseases to American populations. The American population did not have prior experience of these diseases. The outcomes were overwhelming and devastating. In summary, the Colombian exchange expanded trade and scope of production of livestock, pets, and pests. Also, potatoes, turkeys and tobacco came to Europe from America. The results transformed the world history and recast the ecology of both regions. Question 3 The plantation complex (Plantation complexes of the Southern U.S.) was the complex or built environment that characterized most agricultural plantations particularly in American South between 17th and 20th century (Strayer, 33). It contained virtually everything, including pens for livestock and the main residence. The main houses were the most elaborate and the most likely to survive. Southern plantations were self-governing and autonomous settlements that primarily relied on slaves for labor. Most plantations focused mainly on the production of enough staple food crops and cash crops. The plantation complex was fundamental to emergence and growth of Atlantic trade system. However, very few plantation complexes have survived into the modern era. In summary, natural disaster, fire, and neglect destroyed the vast majority of plantation structures over the centuries. Similarly, building complexes and plantations became obsolete following the collapse of the plantation economy (Strayer, 18). The Southern states transitioned from a vastly agrarian to a manufacturing or industrial society. Question 4 Slavery refers to an economic or legal system by which rulers and the affluent in society treat people as property. It may also imply the state or condition of being a slave. Similarly, slavery may refer to the system or practice of owning slaves. Individuals or organizations may buy slaves from willing sellers. They may also sell slaves to interested buyers. Laws and systems of a nation or territory usually determine how slavery is conducted. Most societies recognized slavery in the past and the practice has persisted though in the form of serfdom or domestic servants held in captivity (Strayer, 29). However, in the recent past, virtually all countries worldwide have since outlawed slavery. Atlantic slavery (transatlantic slave trade) took place between the 16th and 19th centuries across the Atlantic Ocean. The practice of slavery was thriving in different parts of Europe, the Americas and Africa for numerous centuries before the Atlantic slave trade began (Strayer, 10). The trade began around mid 15th century and was already in full swing by 16th century. It reached the peak towards the end of 18th century. Atlantic slave trade led to an influx of manufactured products in Africa. However, the trade also resulted in a considerable decline in African population due to mass exportation of Africans to America to work on plantations. The trade financed the industrial revolution of Britain and other major European empires. Eventually, the trade lost its profitability and Britain banned it in 1833. Question 5 The European and Chinese naval technology and explorations in the Indian Ocean in the early modern era were characterized by certain key similarities and differences. The European, unlike the Chinese, felt the constant pressure to improve their naval technology in the early modern era (Strayer, 42). Europeans were arguably accustomed to combat, often arming the broadsides of their ships with cannons as they sailed into the Indian Ocean. On the contrary, Chinese naval ships sailed (unarmed) across thousands of miles in the Indian Ocean because trade in the ocean was generally peaceful. In addition, the Chinese government did not feel the pressure to make improvements to their sailing and military technology. The country, like other Asian empires, focused more on expanding trade, increasing the market size, wealth creation, and increasing productivity. That is, Asia was basically the center of global trade during the early modern era. The Europeans achieved naval superiority in the early modern era and elsewhere in the world by the sixteenth century due to their rapidly expanding innovations in sailing and military technology. Apparently, Europe experienced bloody competition between different states that ultimately pressured Europeans to improve and advance their military technology by 16th century. Accordingly, the gap between European naval technology and the rest of Asia significantly widened in the early modern era. Question 6 The Europeans attained military and naval superiority vis-à-vis the rest of the world in the early modern era primarily because virtually all European states and empires were accustomed to combat. The Europeans even armed the broadsides of their ships with cannons when sailed for the first time into the Indian Ocean. Unlike the rest of Asia, the Europeans were always prepared for a battle. Incidentally, Europeans made much improvement to Mongol cannons thanks to use of stronger cast iron. China and other Asia dynasties did not feel the pressure to boost their naval and military technology because trade in the Indian Ocean was generally peaceful. In essence, the Chinese merchant ships sailed across the oceans unarmed for thousands of miles (Strayer, 24). Meanwhile, the nations and small kingdoms of Europe were always in constant war with each other, prompting many Europeans to improve their naval and military technology. Pugilism worked to the advantage of European nations in the long-term since it eventually contributed to Europe’s unmatched advancements in military technology. The military and naval technological developments in Europe through the eighteenth century saw many European nations develop more advanced weapons and gradually introducing them into their armies. Spain emerged as the dominant power for the better part of 17th and 18th century. However, successive barbarian invasions devastated Spain. Besides, the Western Europe vastly improved its military potential during the 18th century. Industrial revolution, on the other hand, brought about considerable changes in warfare and societies in Europe. A wave of war involving different dynasties in Western Europe resulted in the formation of relatively larger military and naval forces (Strayer, 36). Military commanders spent most of the 18th century creating effective tactical doctrines and organizational structures to exploit the potential of new armies and weapons. Great Britain continued to enjoy a great, unique status among the key European powers. Naturally, the British army exercised immense influence on virtually all American colonies. Question 7 To be modern means a state, empire or territory finding itself in an environment or setting that promises power, transformation, growth, and adventure. Modernization may also destroy all things a nation has already achieved (Strayer, 51). According to the Western civilization and Western Europeans, modernization refers to successful accumulation of social, economic and political traditions. Modernization may also mean the spread that generates dominant cultures. In general, modernization is a model or framework of progressive transition from ‘traditional’ or ‘pre-modern’ to a rather ‘modern society’. Modernization involves coordinated social, political, economic and technological reforms for sustainable growth and development. Political civilization is a typical example of the outcomes of modernization. In summary, the three examples that illustrate the range of historical change called modernization, spanning the fifteenth through the eighteenth centuries include the emergence of empires and dynasties, revolution age, and the advancement of naval and military technology (Strayer, 57). For instance, Europeans improved their naval and military technology in the early modern era. Work Cited Strayer, Robert W. Ways of the World: A Brief Global History. , 2013. Print. Read More