There is one identifiable staple within this time in history: Dominance; dominance by any means possible. Domination trade and sea routes meant not only controlling supply and demand, it meant controlling the prices and the amount of profits. The greater the profits, the more mechanisms could be employed to control them (ships, crews, captains, ports, forts, et al.). Religion would be an ancillary issue; mostly born from the conflicts between English, Spanish and French monarchs. Yet, one of the underlying associations with dominance is greed, and the navy’s (i.e. the monarchs they were commissioned by) would seek out as many lands as possible. Coastal areas of Africa, South America, North America, Asia, et al. would all fall under European
There was always an invasion, capturing, converting of religions. Countries were against each other and everyone wanted to have great power over one
One question posed by the authors is “How did Columbus’s relationship with the Spanish crown change over time, and why?” In simple terms, Columbus’s relationship with the
Imperialism has become a driving force among European nations in the growth of power and wealth. European countries placed large values on controlling colonies, similar to how members of the aristocratic society today would put emphasis on owning an immaculate mansion or an expensive car. Colonies formed in Latin America, Africa, and Asia were seen as status symbols for the overarching European countries; colonies represented economic strength and political power, which was fueled by intense nationalistic spirits. Competition for colonies became the biggest aspect of imperialism, leading several European powers to bicker over controlling colonial trade. The voices of the Colonists were oppressed and ignored as their land and resources were encroached upon by the Europeans.
During the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church was the dominant force in Western civilization. As the Dark Ages came to a close, the monarchies of Europe began to consolidate power; providing an alternative power base. With the Protestant Reformation came another blow to the influence of the Church. Spain, the forerunner in the Age of Discovery, was a fervently Catholic country. During the 16th century, the monarchy combined the forces of "cross and crown" in its imperial policy; much to the dismay and ultimate destruction of the indigenous peoples of the New World. Through an examination of Aztec polytheism and the Catholicism of the conquistadors, comes the central role of religion in the successful conquest of New Spain.
These three places controlled the post classical world when it came to economics and politics. “The political and economic anchor[s] of the postclassical world,” refers to the impact they had. For politics, all three empires, set up armies, built their nation up and formed their government with knowledgeable people that helped keep the empire strong. For economics, they all expanded their trade routes, looked to other regions to bring in new crops and technology and they all had a market economy that made growth effortless. These factors played a big role by controlling and bringing appeal to their land.
Conflict for power existed not only in Europe, but because of imperialism it spread across much of the Eastern Hemisphere. First and foremost, economic rivalries had developed between Britain, Germany, and France. The two Allied members of the group were very concerned about their Central opponent, as both wished to contain Germany’s territorial claims on the resource- and labor-rich continent of Africa.
This was followed, notably in the case of Spain, by a phase of conquest: The
Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan's book of 1890, The Influence of Sea Power upon History, 1660-1783, argued that control of the sea was the key to world dominance; it stimulated the naval race among the great powers.
The relationship between Native American and European nations differed between each nation. Each nation had their tactics, strategies and procedures. It is important to separate each nation with the relationship they had with Native America because this way it is clear to see the differences between each of them. Each nation was important in Native America and for different reasons this means that it clarifies what they specifically did. The nations discussed will be; Spain, England and France. Some comparisons can be made via the nations to show the differences between them. One difference, for example, is how the Spanish made an extensive
From 711-1492, Christian Spaniards lived under Moorish rule until eventually, the Christian Kingdoms took over during the Reconquista. The conflicts between the Muslims and Christians created a militaristic culture in Spain that surpassed that of any other European nation. Furthermore, being trained militarily was often exclusively attributed to the nobility however, in Spain, “many young men knew these skills and used them to their advantage.” Without a doubt, recently reconquering their homeland motivated the Spanish to a basis for expansion and conquest that most other European societies were lacking. In addition, the voyages of Christopher Columbus led to discovering the New World which undoubtedly contributed to added interest in conquest. Eventually, each conquest further raised Spanish hopes for fame and
Many people have heard of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. However, only some know of all the things they accomplished. They might be best known for funding the voyages of Christopher Columbus, but they also greatly contributed to the unity of Spain (“Isabella l”). Together, they brought many kingdoms on the Iberian Peninsula together to form what Spain is today. Through Spain’s unification, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella strengthened Spain into an economic and dominant world power, enabling the spread of Christianity and the colonization of a New World.
In the late 1800's, many European powers had colonies throughout the world where their ships, both naval and merchant, could take on supplies. Imperialism can also be encouraged by patriotism, religion, and a sense of cultural and racial superiority. During the late 1800’s, a strong feeling of nationalism swept most European countries.
To conclude, conflicts fueled by the need for power, the necessity for land, and the desire for religion would redefine the political and social structure of the Renaissance era in Europe. Through all the wars, disputes, and clashes a stronger and more powerful society emerged with more humanist focuses that gave the individual person a better quality of living.
The time 600-1450 CE is a time of local (trans/regional) interactions, and the focal point of this time period was trade, as was religion in the previous time period. I look forward to learning more about how trade impacted the world, and how merchants, technology, and economy grew because of trade and increasing awareness of surrounding empires and regions. Looking ahead, I notice that the two of the most brutal empires in history are in this time period: the Mongols and the Aztecs. Empires that take control of vast lands by military dominance interest me very much, reason to my fondness of the empires of Rome and Alexander the Great.
Spanish Empire. The Spanish Empire would have a social pyramid based on the purity of the