Beginning to think about the Fifteenth Century

1. Before reading chapter 12, what impression of Christopher Columbus

do you have?

2. What reasons are given as to why some are rethinking Columbus’

reputation in history?

“Sometimes, the past can be as unpredictable as the future” - Strayer

3. What predictions about the future might a global traveler in the

fifteenth century have reasonably made?

The Shapes of Human Communities

The Shapes of Human Communities in 1400s

A. In 1500, the world still had all types of societies

from G&H to empires

BUT…the balance was drastically shifting

The Shapes of Human Communities in 1400s

B. Paleolithic Persistence: Australia and North America

1. G&H existed throughout Australia, much of Siberia, arctic coastlands, and

parts of America and Africa

2. societies had changed over time via interaction (some diffusion)

3. Australian Gathers and Hunters

a. 250 separate groups

b. assimilated “outside technologies” and ideas

outrigger canoe, fish hooks, netting techniques, artistic styles, rituals, mythological

concepts

c. had NOT adopted agriculture (despite proximity to farmers)

d. H.E.I – fire stick farming

e. exchanged goods over hundreds of miles

f. developed sophisticated sculpture and rock paintings

The Shapes of Human Communities in 1400s

B. Paleolithic Persistence: Australia and North America

4. northwest coast of North America developed VERY DIFFERENTLY

a. abundant environment allowed development of a complex G&H culture

b. had permanent villages, economic specialization, hierarchies that sometimes included slavery,

chiefdoms and food storage

5. elsewhere, farming had advanced and absorbed Paleolithic lands and

people

The Shapes of Human Communities in 1400s

C. Agricultural Village Societies: The Igbo and Iroquois

1. predominated in much of North America, parts of Amazon River basin,

Southeast Asia and Africa south of the Equator

2. their societies mostly avoided

The Shapes of Human Communities in 1400s

C. Agricultural Village Societies: The Igbo and Iroquois

3. the example of forested region in present-day southern Nigeria

a. by 1400s, Yoruba and Benin people had begun developing small states and urban

centers

4. Igbo Peoples

a. dense population and trade

b. purposely rejected kingship and state building

c. relied on title societies, woman’s associations, and hereditary ritual experts to create a

stateless society

d. traded with Yoruba, Benin and beyond

e. region shared common artistic traditions

f. all shifted from matrilineal to patrilineal

The Shapes of Human Communities in 1400s

C. Agricultural Village Societies: The Igbo and Iroquois

5. in present-day central New York State, agricultural village societies

underwent substantial change in the centuries before 1500

a. Iroquois speakers had become fully agricultural by c.1300 (maize / beans)

b. population growth, emergence of distinct people

c. rise of warfare as key to male prestige

probably since farming was now associated with females (males out of food business)

d. extensive warfare triggered the creation of the Iroquois confederation

impressed Europeans with social equality and personal freedom (women too)

The Shapes of Human Communities in 1400s

D. Pastoral Peoples: Central Asia and West Africa

1. Timur (Tamerlane) – Turkic warrior attempts to reunify Mongol Empire

a. army devastated Russia, Persia, and India

b. dies in 1405 while preparing invasion of China

c. successors kept control of areas between Persia and Afghanistan for a century

d. the last great military success of Central Asian nomads

2. in following centuries, steppe nomads swallowed up by expanding

Russian and Chinese Empires

The Shapes of Human Communities in 1400s

D. Pastoral Peoples: Central Asia and West Africa

3. African pastoralists remain independent longer – until late 19th century

4. example of the Fulbe of West Africa (largest pastoral society)

a. gradual migration eastwards after 1000 CE

b. usually lived in small communities among agriculturalists

c. gradually adopted Islam

d. some move to towns and become religious leaders

e. series of Jihads create new Fulbe-ruled states in the 18th and 19th centuries

Exploration 1. What drives human

exploration?

2. Create a timeline of Zheng He’s life; what were the major turning points?

3. How did being a eunuch affect Zheng He’s life?

4. What was their motives?

5. Strengths / Limitations

6. Significance: Immediate / Long Term

List three facts about Zheng He’s voyages.

Why did Portugal enter the exploration business?

Where did the Portuguese explore? Why? (motives)

What is a trading post empire?

What are a few myths of Columbus’ voyages of exploration?

What was the Line of Demarcation? Was it fair?

Who was the “best” mariner; Zheng He, Columbus or da Gama? (Argument)