HIST 1501 1st Edition Lecture 1Outline of Last LectureI.Outline of Current LectureII. European Background A. World Trade B. Renaissance C. TechnologyD. Political Nation-StatesE. ReconquistaIII. Early exploration: Portugal and Spain A. Canary and Madeira Island B. Slave PlantationsC. Christopher ColumbusIV. EnglandA. PatriarchyB. DeferenceC. Social TurmoilCurrent LectureEconomics:• Europe was being kept from progressing and advancing to where Asians and Muslims were because they were bogged down with wars and such• Europeans felt surrounded and trapped by muslim empire• Muslims controlled trade route with Asia and the Europeans wanted to trade• wanted to trade for silk, gold, and gems• they were required to pay enemy muslim empires for trade access• There was a hostility between European Christians and Muslims• A desire for world trade fueled the EuropeansCultural:• Renaissance sparks a new curiosity in Europe• They got offered new ideas that challenged old ideas through the discovery of new texts• Sparked intellectual curiosity to acquire knowledge widespread throughout county• Ancient Greek texts weren't a direct cause to push curiosityTechnologies:• New technologies made it possible to sail across the ocean• One new technology was the printing press• Gutenberg made a printing press with moveable keys• Could now mass produce writings which made books less rare• Allowed for a spread of knowledge including maps and maritime knowledge• Contributed to another want for people to explore and want to learn more• More people wanted to see or here more about the new places they read about• Other inventions: navigational tools, latitude tools, ship-sail technologies• Allowed navigators to leave sight of the coast line• European weapons also improved• Discoveries of the new world helped fuel exploration (medical, food, etc)Political:• Political changes spurred exploration• Development and rise of strong nation states (Spain, England, France)• Stronger centralized governments-needed to retain power (strong armies, national wealth,less internal conflicts)-exploration strengthened this• Spain: Kingdoms merged together, State and Church were connected and fought to get muslims out (Reconquista- Christian takeover)• Reconquista was complete in 1492• Spain was full of spirit of conquering and spreading of catholicism and spanish culture-out for gold, power, and spread of Christianity• Spain and Portugal took the lead• Portugal first starting conquering and enslaving islands• Native people started dying of European diseases which led them to needed new slaves (looked in Western Africa)• Christopher Columbus had a desire to spread Catholicism, get glory, gold, gems, silks, and recognition for Spain• New found land is what gave Europeans power, profit, strength, more curiosity, more studies and technologies which led the to propel to dominanceEngland:• Wealth and land were concentrated in the elite in a hierarchy• Very patriarchal with a natural hierarchy with different levels• Order of hierarchy from top to bottom: Monarchy, Aristocracy, Gentry, and CommonPeople• Monarchy, aristocracy, and gentry were 5% of the population and common people were 95%• The aristocrats had titles and were given legal privileges• The gentry were lesser aristocracy that were wealthy but didn't have titles or legal privileges• The common people varied greatly and depended on someone else• At the core of society was the idea of deference which is that you owe submission to your social