Exploration and Conquest I. European Exploration Why Explore? Wealth from direct trade with Asia Spread the faith 3. Spirit of Renaissance exploration and discovery 4. New technologies Caravel- long distance ship with triangular sails Compass -navigational tool Astrolabe- using the stars to find position II. Conquistadors A. Conquistadors- Spanish conquerors of Americas B. Why conquer the Americas? 1. god, glory, gold C. Able to conquer because of their newness, modern weapons (horses, steel, and gunpowder), and diseases The Aztecs and Incas I. Aztecs (1200-1500) A. Middle Central America - (Mexico) B. Capital -Tenochtitlan 1. Located on an island in Lake Texcoco (now Mexico City) 2. Biggest city in the world at the time 3. Chinampas- floating farms C. Warrior society but also very educated E. Human sacrifice II. Incas (1400 – 1550) West coast of South America B. Centrally government controlled economy, religion, and class system C. Cities 1. Cusco (Captiol) 2. Machu Picchu D. Extensive road network E. No writing but recording system (quipu) Islamic Gunpowder Empires: Safavid and Mughal II. Safavid Empire (1500-1722) A. Located: Persia (modern day Iran), Shi’a Muslim B. Persecuted the Sunni, came into conflict with the Ottomans and other Muslims C. Traded silk, carpets, and ceramics along the Silk Road to the West D. Decline: British and Dutch controlled Indian Ocean trade, raids from tribes along borders III. Mughal Empire (1526-1750) A. Islamic conquerors (using gunpowder) took India B. Achievements 1. Significant population growth with heavy agriculture 2. Taj Mahal- built by Shah Jahan as tomb in memory of his wife C. Religion 1. Muslims ran the government but allowed religious tolerance 2. Sikhism- religion that blended elements of both Islam and Hinduism D. Decline Later rulers persecuted Hindus and Sikhs leading to rebellion European merchants (especially the British) gained more influence in India through local leaders Late Chinese Dynasties: Ming and qing IV. Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) A. Peasants defeated the last of the Mongol armies and claimed the mandate of heaven B. Restored culture based on Confucianism and civil service C. Ruled from Forbidden City complex in Beijing, Emperor became isolated from his people – WHY?!?! D. Foreign Relations 1. Admiral Zheng He extended Ming influence by leading a huge fleet to collect tribute from around the Indian Ocean 2. After, China became isolated but had limited trade with Europeans V. Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) A. Manchu (NE China) invaded and started a new dynasty B. Economy prospered with export of tea C. Chinese believed that their goods and culture were superior to Europeans D. Isolation prevented them from keeping up with European advancements Late Chinese Dynasties: Tang, Song, & Monogls I. The Chinese Gol.

1. Exploration
and
Conquest
I. European Exploration
Why Explore?
Wealth from direct trade with Asia
Spread the faith
3. Spirit of Renaissance exploration and discovery
4. New technologies
Caravel- long distance ship with triangular sails
Compass -navigational tool
Astrolabe- using the stars to find position
II. Conquistadors
A. Conquistadors- Spanish conquerors of Americas
B. Why conquer the Americas?
1. god, glory, gold
C. Able to conquer because of their newness, modern weapons
(horses, steel, and gunpowder), and diseases

2. The Aztecs and Incas
I. Aztecs (1200-1500)
A. Middle Central America - (Mexico)
B. Capital -Tenochtitlan
1. Located on an island in Lake Texcoco (now Mexico City)
2. Biggest city in the world at the time
3. Chinampas-
floating farms
C. Warrior society but also very educated
E. Human sacrifice

3. II. Incas (1400 – 1550)
West coast of South America
B. Centrally government controlled economy, religion, and class
system
C. Cities
1. Cusco (Captiol)
2. Machu Picchu

4. D. Extensive road network
E. No writing but recording system (quipu)
Islamic Gunpowder Empires:
Safavid and Mughal
II. Safavid Empire (1500-1722)
A. Located: Persia (modern day Iran), Shi’a Muslim
B. Persecuted the Sunni, came into conflict with the Ottomans
and other Muslims
C. Traded silk, carpets, and ceramics along the Silk Road to the
West
D. Decline: British and Dutch controlled Indian Ocean trade,
raids from tribes along borders

5. III. Mughal Empire (1526-1750)
A. Islamic conquerors (using gunpowder) took India
B. Achievements
1. Significant population growth with heavy agriculture
2. Taj Mahal- built by Shah Jahan as tomb in memory of his
wife
C. Religion
1. Muslims ran the government but allowed religious tolerance
2. Sikhism- religion that blended elements of both Islam and
Hinduism
D. Decline
Later rulers persecuted Hindus and Sikhs leading to rebellion
European merchants (especially the British) gained more
influence in India through local leaders
Late Chinese Dynasties:
Ming and qing

6. IV. Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)
A. Peasants defeated the last of the Mongol armies and claimed
the mandate of heaven
B. Restored culture based on Confucianism and civil service
C. Ruled from Forbidden City complex in Beijing, Emperor
became isolated from his people – WHY?!?!
D. Foreign Relations
1. Admiral Zheng He extended Ming influence by leading a
huge fleet to collect tribute from around the Indian Ocean
2. After, China became isolated but had limited trade with
Europeans

7. V. Qing Dynasty (1644-1911)
A. Manchu (NE China) invaded and started a new dynasty
B. Economy prospered with export of tea
C. Chinese believed that their goods and culture were superior
to Europeans
D. Isolation prevented them from keeping up with European
advancements
Late Chinese Dynasties:
Tang, Song, & Monogls

8. I. The Chinese Golden Age
(Tang 618-907
Song 960-1279)
A. Tang restored a strong central government with bureaucracy
after a period of disunity
B. Buddhism became the main religion
Wu Zetian
C. Expanded the civil service system to allow any person to try
to take the exams- great honor and status to pass
D. Inventions: printing press, gunpowder, paper money,
compass, porcelain
E. Practiced foot binding- limited women’s movement
F. Overthrown by the Mongols

9. II. The Mongolian Empire
A. The Mongols were a nomadic pastoralist people from central
Asia with a history of invading China
B. Tribes united by Genghis Khan (universal ruler)- 1206 AD
great military leader who used his cavalry to defeat all enemies
2. Enemy cities were either destroyed or became tributary
states- self rule, but must give resources
3. After Genghis Khan died, empire split in four empires- Pax
Mongolia (era of Mongol peace)
C. The Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368): Mongol Rule
1. Kublai Khan (Genghis Khan’s grandson) conquered China
and declared himself emperor

10. 2. Visited by the European explorer Marco Polo
3. Tried to invade Japan but defeated by typhoons
“Islamic Gunpowder Empires:
Ottoman Empire”
I. Ottoman Empire (1300-1918)
A. Sunni Muslim Turks from central Asia migrated into Asia
minor (modern day Turkey)
B. Mehmet II, using cannons, took the Constantinople in 1453,
renamed Istanbul
C. Expansion: eastern Europe, Middle East, North Africa
1. Gunpowder technology, strategy, and organization made it
most powerful empire of the time
2. Controlled trade along Mediterranean Sea
3. Religious freedom for Christians and Jews
4. Janissaries- enslaved Christian boys taken to be enslaved and
made elite soldiers loyal to the sultan

11. D. Suleiman the Magnificent
Military expanded all the way to Vienna, Austria
Reformed taxes and bureaucracy
Improved the court system and legal code; reduced corruption
with new laws
E. Decline:
too large to manage- widespread corruption
Slow to adapt to Western manufacturing and technology
(banned the printing press)
Slowly lost territory but lasted until WWI
AFRICAN KINGDOMS
I. AFRICAN GEOGRAPHY

12. A. Sahara- largest desert in the world located
B. Savanna- grassland, largest feature
C. Rainforest around equator
II. Impact of Geography
A. Few good lands for farming
B. Pastoralist lifestyle
C. Few written accounts
E. Trans-Saharan Trade Route- Trade and cultural
diffusion between North and West Africa across Sahara
III. MAJOR KINGDOMS
A. Axum- Christian kingdom
B. Great Zimbabwe

13. C. Ghana (300-1230) West Africa, exported gold,
imported salt
D. Mali (1230- 1400) Replaced Ghana, Muslim
1. Mansa Musa doubled size of empire, Hajj (inflation)
IV. SLAVE TRADE
A. All early civilizations
had slavery: From war,
tribute, debt, or
offspring
B. Arab Muslims
(Islamic Empires) first
non-Africans to trade
for slaves
C. Europeans were

14. later a new market for
African slaves
Tang/Song
1. Describe the “Chinese Golden Age” and compare it to the
European Renaissance.
2. Explain the role of women during these dynasties.
Ming/Qing
1. What was the Forbidden City and what was its purpose?
2. Describe Zheng He’s voyages. Why were they not as long
lasting in impact as the later European explorers?
3. Why did the Ming and Qing dynasties isolate themselves?
Mongols:

15. 1. Describe the Pax Mongolia and it’s implication on cultural
diffusion.
Islamic Empires:
1. Explain Suleiman the Magnificent’ s contribution to the
Ottoman Empire.
2. How did the Ottoman’s conquer Constantinople? Why is this
ironic considering the decline of the empire?
3. Who were Janissaries?
4. What distinguishes the Safavid empire from the others? What
modern day country makes up this territory?
5. Describe a legacy of the Mughal empire that represents its
cultural blending of many traditions.

16. African Kingdoms:
1. How did Africa’s geography play a role in the development
of civilization?
2. What goods were primarily traded along the Trans-Saharan
trade route?
3. Describe an outcome of Mansa Musa’s hajj to Mecca.
4. Who was the initial market of the African slave trade?
5. Describe the Middle Passage.
6. Explain the African Diaspora and it’s implication.
Aztecs and Incas:
1. How did the Aztecs adapt to their geography?

17. 2. Explain a major difference between the Aztec and Incan
empires.
3. Why did early American empires practice human sacrifice?
4. How was Hernandez Cortez able to conquer the Aztecs?
Exploration:
1. How did the Renaissance influence the age of exploration?
2. Who was Vasco de Gama? What was his greatest
achievement?
3. Describe the impact of Christopher Columbus’ voyages to the
new world?
4. List goods exchange on either side of the Columbian
Exchange.

18. 5. What was the common goal among European countries for
explorations and conquest?
Colonization:
1. Describe the outcome of the Treaty of Tordesillas.
2. Explain the encomienda system.
3. Describe the concept of mercantilism. What is the colonies’
role in it?
Japan:
1. Who were the Samurai?
2. Describe the achievements of the Tokugawa shogunate.
3. What religions played a role in feudal Japan? What is the
origin of those religions?