Question 1

Discuss the European impact,positive and negative,on the native populations of Southeast Asia.

Accepted Answer

The European impact on the native populations of Southeast Asia had both positive and negative effects.

Positive impacts included the introduction of new crops and agricultural techniques, which helped to improve food production and increase the overall standard of living for some native populations. European trade also brought new goods and technologies to the region, which contributed to economic development and cultural exchange.

However, the negative impacts of European colonization were significant. The arrival of European powers led to the exploitation and oppression of native populations. Many Southeast Asian societies were subjected to forced labor, land confiscation, and discriminatory policies. This resulted in widespread poverty, displacement, and loss of traditional ways of life.

Furthermore, European colonization also brought diseases such as smallpox, measles, and influenza, which devastated native populations that had no immunity to these illnesses. This led to a significant decline in the indigenous population of Southeast Asia.

In addition, the imposition of European political systems and boundaries led to social and political unrest, as well as the loss of autonomy for many native communities. The legacy of colonialism continues to impact Southeast Asia today, as many countries in the region still struggle with the social, economic, and political consequences of European intervention.

In conclusion, while European impact on Southeast Asia brought some positive changes, the negative effects of colonization were far-reaching and continue to shape the region's development. It is important to acknowledge and address the lasting impact of European colonization on the native populations of Southeast Asia.

Question 2

Compare and contrast the causes and consequences of the voyages of Zhenghe with those of Columbus.Speculate on how history might have be different had Zhenghe successfully navigated the Pacific to the coast of California.

Accepted Answer

The voyages of Zhenghe and Columbus were both significant in their own right, but they had different causes and consequences.

Zhenghe's voyages, also known as the "Treasure Voyages," were commissioned by the Ming Dynasty in China in the early 15th century. They were primarily motivated by a desire to expand Chinese influence and trade in the Indian Ocean and beyond. Zhenghe's fleet was massive, consisting of hundreds of ships and thousands of men, and his voyages were aimed at establishing diplomatic and economic relationships with other countries.

On the other hand, Columbus's voyages were sponsored by the Spanish monarchy in the late 15th century, with the primary goal of finding a new trade route to Asia. Columbus's voyages ultimately led to the European colonization of the Americas and the establishment of the transatlantic slave trade.

The consequences of these voyages were also different. Zhenghe's voyages did not result in significant long-term Chinese colonization or influence in the regions he visited, and they were eventually discontinued by the Ming Dynasty. In contrast, Columbus's voyages had a profound and lasting impact on the Americas, leading to the establishment of European colonies and the exchange of goods, ideas, and diseases between the Old World and the New World.

If Zhenghe had successfully navigated the Pacific to the coast of California, it is likely that Chinese influence in the Americas would have been significantly greater. This could have led to a different pattern of colonization and trade in the region, potentially altering the course of history in significant ways. It is possible that Chinese colonization and influence in the Americas could have had a different impact on the indigenous populations and the development of the region as a whole. Additionally, the exchange of goods, ideas, and technologies between China and the Americas could have had far-reaching consequences for global trade and cultural exchange.

In conclusion, while the voyages of Zhenghe and Columbus had different causes and consequences, the successful navigation of the Pacific by Zhenghe could have had a profound impact on the course of history, potentially altering the development of the Americas and global trade in significant ways.

Question 3

Compare and contrast slavery in Africa before the sixteenth century to African slavery after the arrival of the Europeans.What are the continuities,if any,and what are the differences?

Accepted Answer

Before the sixteenth century, slavery in Africa was a common practice that was deeply rooted in the social, economic, and political structures of many African societies. Slavery in pre-sixteenth century Africa was often a result of warfare, where captives were taken as slaves as a way to expand labor forces or to gain wealth and power. Slaves in African societies before the arrival of Europeans were often integrated into the community and had some rights and opportunities for social mobility. They could marry, own property, and even achieve positions of power within their communities.

After the arrival of the Europeans, African slavery took on a new and more brutal form. The transatlantic slave trade, which began in the sixteenth century, led to the mass kidnapping and forced transportation of millions of Africans to the Americas to work on plantations. This form of slavery was characterized by extreme exploitation, dehumanization, and the complete loss of freedom and rights for the enslaved individuals. The transatlantic slave trade also had a devastating impact on African societies, leading to widespread violence, disruption of traditional social structures, and the depopulation of certain regions.

Despite these differences, there are some continuities in the practice of slavery in Africa before and after the arrival of the Europeans. Slavery continued to be used as a means of labor exploitation and as a tool for social and political advancement. Additionally, the dehumanization and exploitation of enslaved individuals remained a common feature of African slavery both before and after the arrival of the Europeans.

In conclusion, while there are significant differences in the nature and impact of slavery in Africa before and after the arrival of the Europeans, there are also some continuities in the underlying motivations and treatment of enslaved individuals. The transatlantic slave trade brought about a new and more brutal form of slavery that had far-reaching consequences for African societies, but it also built upon and perpetuated existing practices of slavery in the region.

Question 4

What were the possible factors that allowed some non-Western societies to resist or cope with the arrival of Westerners better than others? How did Alfonso I seek to use his common Christian faith to alleviate the impact of slavery on his subjects?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What were the possible factors that allowed...

Question 5

How did technological advancements,the rise of stronger governments,and economic growth cause European societies to become involved in maritime expansion in the 1400s and 1500s? Why then?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How did technological advancements,the rise of stronger...

Question 6

Identify the following terms.
-Malacca

Accepted Answer

The answer of Identify the following terms.
-Malacca...

Question 7

Did "globalization" really begin in the sixteenth century? Why and/or why not? Give specific examples.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Did "globalization" really begin in the sixteenth...

Question 8

Identify the following terms.
-Marco Polo's Travels

Accepted Answer

The answer of Identify the following terms.
-Marco Polo's Travels...

Question 9

How did Spanish methods of dealing with their new territories in America affect the native populations there? Discuss and elaborate on the role of Bartolomé de la Casas in alleviating the aggressive policies of the Spanish toward the native populations

Accepted Answer

The answer of How did Spanish methods of dealing with...

Question 10

How,and to what extent,did the arrival of Europeans influence the scope and conduct of the spice trade?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How,and to what extent,did the arrival of...

Question 11

How did the arrival of Islam change the previously Buddhist and Hindu societies of Southeast Asia?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How did the arrival of Islam change...

Question 12

Identify the following terms.
-"Christians and spices"

Accepted Answer

The answer of Identify the following terms.
-"Christians and spices"...

Question 13

Why was it Western Europe rather than China,the Muslim world,or some other non-Western society that effected the globalization era of the sixteenth century? What prevented China and the well-organized Islamic states from achieving an ascendancy?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why was it Western Europe rather than...

Question 14

Identify the following terms.
-Songhai

Accepted Answer

The answer of Identify the following terms.
-Songhai...

Question 15

Compare and contrast the impact of the European colonial nations in the Americas with the impact of the West in Southeast Asia.What are the similarities and what are the differences?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Compare and contrast the impact of the...

Question 16

Identify the following terms.
-Sufism

Accepted Answer

The answer of Identify the following terms.
-Sufism...

Question 17

Identify the following terms.
-Prince Henry the Navigator

Accepted Answer

The answer of Identify the following terms.
-Prince Henry the Navigator...

Question 18

Identify the following terms.
-Vasco da Gama

Accepted Answer

The answer of Identify the following terms.
-Vasco da Gama...

Question 19

Identify the following terms.
-Paramesvara

Accepted Answer

The answer of Identify the following terms.
-Paramesvara...

Question 20

What geographical advantages did Western Europe have in its encounters with the non-Western world in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries? How did the Portuguese lead the way in exploration? What role did Prince Henry the Navigator play? How did imported eastern ideas and innovations spur the Portuguese advance?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What geographical advantages did Western Europe have...

Quiz 14: New Encounters: The Creation of a World Market

Discuss the European impact,positive and negative,on the native populations of Southeast Asia.

Compare and contrast the causes and consequences of the voyages of Zhenghe with those of Columbus.Speculate on how history might have be different had Zhenghe successfully navigated the Pacific to the coast of California.

Compare and contrast slavery in Africa before the sixteenth century to African slavery after the arrival of the Europeans.What are the continuities,if any,and what are the differences?

What were the possible factors that allowed some non-Western societies to resist or cope with the arrival of Westerners better than others? How did Alfonso I seek to use his common Christian faith to alleviate the impact of slavery on his subjects?

How did technological advancements,the rise of stronger governments,and economic growth cause European societies to become involved in maritime expansion in the 1400s and 1500s? Why then?

Identify the following terms. -Malacca

Did "globalization" really begin in the sixteenth century? Why and/or why not? Give specific examples.

Identify the following terms. -Marco Polo's Travels

How did Spanish methods of dealing with their new territories in America affect the native populations there? Discuss and elaborate on the role of Bartolomé de la Casas in alleviating the aggressive policies of the Spanish toward the native populations

How,and to what extent,did the arrival of Europeans influence the scope and conduct of the spice trade?

How did the arrival of Islam change the previously Buddhist and Hindu societies of Southeast Asia?

Identify the following terms. -"Christians and spices"

Why was it Western Europe rather than China,the Muslim world,or some other non-Western society that effected the globalization era of the sixteenth century? What prevented China and the well-organized Islamic states from achieving an ascendancy?

Identify the following terms. -Songhai

Compare and contrast the impact of the European colonial nations in the Americas with the impact of the West in Southeast Asia.What are the similarities and what are the differences?

Identify the following terms. -Sufism

Identify the following terms. -Prince Henry the Navigator

Identify the following terms. -Vasco da Gama

Identify the following terms. -Paramesvara