The document discusses several theories for what caused the rise of the West between 1450-1750. The environmental theory argues Europe's natural advantages like resources, climate and harbors gave it a head start. D'Souza's theory says Europe rose due to institutions like science, democracy, and capitalism. Other factors discussed include the centralization of nation-states, population impacts from the Black Death like labor shortages and immunity, religious changes from the Reformation, and technological advances like the printing press.

1. Aim: What caused the Aim: What caused the r risisee o off t thhee w weesstt??
Period IV: 1450-1750
Rise of the West
Do Now: Write a thesis statement that
Do Now: Write a thesis statement that
answers the question:
answers the question:
What caused the rise of the west?
What caused the rise of the west?

2. What led to the Rise of the
West
Environmental
Theory
Cultures are the product of location and natural resources.
Europe rose to power because of its immense natural
advantages such as the availability of mineral resources,
climate, rivers, natural harbors. This gave them a “head
Start” over other cultures.
Cultures are the product of location and natural resources.
Europe rose to power because of its immense natural
advantages such as the availability of mineral resources,
climate, rivers, natural harbors. This gave them a “head
Start” over other cultures.
Oppression
Theory
Europe rose to power due to evil actions such as
ethnocentrism, colonialism, imperialism, and racism.
Europe rose to power due to evil actions such as
ethnocentrism, colonialism, imperialism, and racism.
D’Souza’s
Theory
Europe rose to power due to its invention and use of three
Europe rose to power due to its invention and use of three
institutions: Science (experimentation, progress,
technology), democracy (government based on
institutions: Science (experimentation, progress,
technology), democracy (government based on
Enlightenment ideals), and capitalism (Economics based on
Enlightenment ideals), and capitalism (Economics based on
natural laws, development).
natural laws, development).

3. INITIAL DISADVANTAGES
Feudalism Created social classes
Decentralized gov’t – strong nobles
who raised their own armies –
constant warfare
Economy was weak – wanted eastern
goods but had nothing to trade
Poor location – away from trade
routes
ADVANTAGES
Centralized Nation-States emerge
Competition among nations led to
centralized gov’t
Need for Eastern goods led to
search for new trade routes –
water
Location becomes centralized
with use of Atlantic Ocean
Political

4. INITIAL DISADVANTAGES
Black Death, famine and war killed
almost 50% of pop
Many different languages, customs,
traditions divide people
Small population compared to other
civ’s, not united
Resources depleted! (forests, crops,
land)
ADVANTAGES
Labor shortage – end of serfdom
Immunity to disease – helped conquer
New World
Competition led to warfare –
development of weapons and tactics
Nationalism developed – desire to
succeed for one’s nation
Population

5. The Black Death…was it really
that bad?
Film Clip
(Can skip 2:45 – 4:06)

6. INITIAL DISADVANTAGES
Religion was questioned and
challenged during Black Death
(fear, doubt, etc.)
Persecution of heretics, Jews,
Muslims, “witches” were
common
Need to raise money for charity
– tithe, indulgences – led to
corruption
Protestant Reformation – split
RC Church, wars
ADVANTAGES
Religion
New Secular outlook – new desire to
experiment and discover – individualism,
Humanism
Split in church led to Missionary
Expeditions to spread ideas
Kings gain power over Pope

7. INITIAL DISADVANTAGES
Education was very limited – elite and
priests
Church dominated – Gothic
architecture
Beliefs in Bible, manuscripts, life is
suffering
Most technology is devoted to warfare
Intellectual/ Technological
ADVANTAGES
Printing Press (Johann Gutenberg) – spreads
new ideas rapidly
New trade routes encourage new technology
and ideas
Development of weapons, caravels, compass,
etc. enables travel and power of small armies
Renaissance – Humanism – individual
accomplishments (Science, art, exploration)

8. RISE UP
Such is the way of the world
You can never know
Just where to put all your faith
And how will it grow
Gonna rise up
Burning back holes in dark memories
Gonna rise up
Turning mistakes into gold
Such is the passage of time
Too fast to fold
And suddenly swallowed by signs
Low and behold
Gonna rise up
Find my direction magnetically
Gonna rise up
Throw down my ace in the hole
Can you relate any
of the lyrics to
the events that
led to the Rise of
the West?
Rise Song