Ways of the World Chapter 13: Political Transformations
European Empires in the Americas
European Advantage
o Location
Closer to Americas than Asians
Fixed winds for Europe to push ships towards Americas
o Motivation
Didn’t have domestic trade, wanted more trade
Natural resources in the New World
Didn’t want to rely on Muslims merchants who found wealth by being
middlemen
“We came here to serve God and the King, and also to get rich.”
o Technology
Ships influenced by the Chinese and Muslims
Ironwork and gunpowder weapons and horses well above technology of
Americans
o Advantages of the New World
Divided local societies created advantages for Europeans
Ex: Subject societies of Aztecs helped Cortes take down the Aztecs
o Germs completely exotic to the New World was the greatest weapon
The Great Dying and the Little Ice Age
o European Germs
Native American contact with European germs brought pandemic
10-20 million people declined to about 1 million in 1650
o The Little Ice Age
Period of unusually cool temperatures in Early Modern Period of history
was most prominent in North America
Many theories for this cause, including low sunspot activity, volcanic
activity
New science says it was because of Native American deaths, allowing
plant growth and intake of CO2
o Effects of the Little Ice Age in Eurasia
China, Europe, North America experienced extra-cold winters
Regions near the equator got extreme conditions and irregular rainfall
Difficult weather brought stress in society; Ex – collapse of Ming Dynasty,
constant warfare in Europe, civil war in Mughal India
o Effects of Little Ice Age in New World
Severe drought in centre of Aztec empire, centre of Spanish rule
El Niño frequencies increased and bred mosquitoes, perfect for spreading
yellow fever and malaria
o Period of trouble called the “General Crisis”
Columbian Exchange
o Effects of the Great Dying
Labour shortage for European newcomers
European Empires in the Americas
European Advantage
o Location
Closer to Americas than Asians
Fixed winds for Europe to push ships towards Americas
o Motivation
Didn’t have domestic trade, wanted more trade
Natural resources in the New World
Didn’t want to rely on Muslims merchants who found wealth by being
middlemen
“We came here to serve God and the King, and also to get rich.”
o Technology
Ships influenced by the Chinese and Muslims
Ironwork and gunpowder weapons and horses well above technology of
Americans
o Advantages of the New World
Divided local societies created advantages for Europeans
Ex: Subject societies of Aztecs helped Cortes take down the Aztecs
o Germs completely exotic to the New World was the greatest weapon
The Great Dying and the Little Ice Age
o European Germs
Native American contact with European germs brought pandemic
10-20 million people declined to about 1 million in 1650
o The Little Ice Age
Period of unusually cool temperatures in Early Modern Period of history
was most prominent in North America
Many theories for this cause, including low sunspot activity, volcanic
activity
New science says it was because of Native American deaths, allowing
plant growth and intake of CO2
o Effects of the Little Ice Age in Eurasia
China, Europe, North America experienced extra-cold winters
Regions near the equator got extreme conditions and irregular rainfall
Difficult weather brought stress in society; Ex – collapse of Ming Dynasty,
constant warfare in Europe, civil war in Mughal India
o Effects of Little Ice Age in New World
Severe drought in centre of Aztec empire, centre of Spanish rule
El Niño frequencies increased and bred mosquitoes, perfect for spreading
yellow fever and malaria
o Period of trouble called the “General Crisis”
Columbian Exchange
o Effects of the Great Dying
Labour shortage for European newcomers
