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1405
Voyages of Zheng He
A Chinese Muslim from the Ming Empire starts series of voyages through the Indian Ocean, from Southeast Asia to Africa. -
1418
Henry the Navigator
Henry was a Portuguese prince that promoted the study of navigation. He started a research center at Sagres, and he never actually went on expeditions. -
1492
Exploration and Discovery of the New World
Portugal and Spain began a maritime revolution that altered the course of world history. This ended the isolation of the Americas and increased the volume of global interaction. Technological advancements made transoceanic connections possible. This facilitated the spread of religion, culture, diseases, and crops. -
Period: 1492 to
Columbian Exchange
This refers to the transfer of people, animals, plants, and diseases between the new and old world. Columbus's voyage to the West Indies started the Colombian Exchange. This led to the introduction of American food crops in the Eastern Hemisphere, which caused demographic growth. Humans were interacting with the environment in new ways. -
Period: 1492 to 1540
The Encomienda System
This was a grant of authority over a population of Amerindians in the Spanish colonies. It provided the grant holder with a supply of cheap labor and periodic payments of goods. This is an example of one of the new forms of coerced labor that emerged. The grant holder would try to Christianize the Amerindians. Empires that expanded and conquered people around the world often had difficulty incorporating their religion with the native people. -
1494
Treaty of Tordesillas
This was a treaty between Portugal and Spain that placed an imaginary line in Atlantic. Spain was given rights to all newly discovered and undiscovered lands west of the line, and Portugal was to keep east of the line. -
1498
Vasco De Gama Reaches India
Vasco De Gama sailed from Lisbon in 1497 on a mission to reach India and opened a sea route from Europe to the East. After sailing down the western coast of Africa and rounding the Cape of Good Hope, his expedition made numerous stops in Africa. -
1519
Protestant Reformation
This was a religious reform movement within the Catholic Church. It was led by Martin Luther. It resulted in the formation of many new Christian denominations. -
1520
The Sale of Indulgences Begins
This is when the church was selling passes to alleviate the burden of sin to poor people to gain monetary power. -
1540
The Scientific Revolution Begins
This was a time when greater thinking became popular. Things such as Calculus and Heliocentrism were created. -
1545
The Catholic Reformation Begins
the Roman Catholic efforts directed in the 16th and early 17th centuries both against the Protestant Reformation and toward internal renewal -
Period: to
Little Ice Age
This was a century-long period of cool climate. It caused European farmers to adapt, and farmers were able to increase agricultural productivity by introducing new crops and using new methods of crop and field rotation. An example of one method is the three field system. -
The Atlantic Circuit
The Atlantic Circuit was the network of trade routes connecting Europe, Africa, and the Americas. These routes were what the transatlantic slave trade consisted of, and goods were also traded. These networks of trade continued to be used in period five. -
Establishment of New France
New France was a French colony in North America, with a capital in Quebec. This settlement of New France is an example of how European empires moved more quickly to settlement and territorial control. New France participated in the existing trade networks that the Amerindians had established. -
Qing Empire Begins
The Ming Empire collapses due to internal rebellion and threats on the boarders. The Qing Empire was established directly after the fall of the Ming Empire. At various times, the Qing also controlled Manchuria, Mongolia, Turkestan, and Tibet. -
Slave Trade Predominates in Africa
There were multiple changes in African trading patterns that continued to occur even in period five. These changes strengthened some West and Central African states.
