World History Final Exam Review
Part 2
Unit 4: Connecting Hemispheres
During this time period the world experiences more interaction between different cultures and
regions. We see the development and expansion of global trade networks that facilitate the
spread of culture. More specifically we see the beginning of European exploration in the
Americas, and also the Renaissance, and Reformation.
Time Period: 1450-1750
European Expansionism
1. What caused European expansion during this time period?
Writings of Marco Polo had increased European interest in trade with Asia, however, the
Ottoman Turks conquest of Constantinople cut off Europe from trade routes. As a result,
Europeans looked for a new route to Asia by an all water passage. PLUS the adapted
technological innovations like the compass and triangular sails improved navigation
2. How did the Columbian
Exchange impact:
The Americas:
Plants like wheat and sugar &
animals like cattle, horses, etc
improved way of life
European diseases killed millions
of people because the Natives had
no built up immunities
Europe:
Diet was greatly improved by the
introduction of new foods
Europeans established vast
colonial empires in the America
3. How were the Inca and Aztec empires impacted by European exploration and colonization?
Millions died from exposure to new European diseases, such as smallpox and
measles. Columbian Exchange
Slave Trade
4. What were the causes of the slave trade?
A demand for many laborers for the sugar, tobacco and cotton plantations. Paid laborers were too
expensive, and the indigenous people had largely been wiped out by disease and conflict, so the
colonizers turned to Africa to provide cheap labor in the form of slaves.
5. What caused the slave trade to expand?
Native Americans were cheap but millions died from disease, warfare, and brutal treatment.
Having already been in contact with Europeans, Africans were taken as slaves to work on
plantations and mines in the New World
6. How did the Atlantic slave trade impact on:
The Americas?
West Africa?
Helped grow cash crops for export
Disrupted African culture
Contributed to the economic power of the
America
Encouraged African warfare: tribes go to
war to capture slaves for European guns,
rum, & other goods
Brought African culture to the Americas (art,
music, religion, & food)
Population loss
Mixed population
Renaissance
1. What was the European Renaissance?
A new interest in learning about the classical civilizations of Greece & Rome led to a period of
great intellectual & artistic creativity. Renaissance is French for rebirth and began in Italy
2. What were the causes of the European Renaissance?
- The reemergence and study of ancient text by Italian humanist scholars
- As trade increased, the cities of Italy emerged as centers of banking, commerce, &
handicrafts. City-states flourished because no single ruler in France. Italian merchants &
nobles acted as patrons supporting artist, writers, & scholars. Italy was surrounded by
remains of ancient civilizations
3. What impact did the European Renaissance have in each of the following areas?
Political
Intellectual
- Niccolo Machiavelli wrote “The Prince” which is a guidebook in how to
secure/maintain political power. (the end justifies the means)
- Wealth of city states & weak church led rulers to justify means of strengthening
the state (collected taxes, raised armies, exchanged ambassadors)
Humanism: studied classical texts & focused on human potential/achievements
Copernicus: Earth not center of universe
Galileo: Strengthen Copernicus’ theory
Gutenberg: invented the printing press
Artistic
Economic
Religions
Made improvements to make paintings more realistic (3D space, perspective,
shadows)
Architecture: roman influence in the classical style- domes, columns, arches
Ideas/products spread quickly
Increase in wealth/material goods
Growth of cities
Wealth from banking, farming, production (flourished because no single ruler)
-Spirit of inquiry as well as knowledge of the corruption of the Church led to a
growing loss of spiritual influence
-Erasmus: concentrate on social problems and church reform
-Led to the Protestant Reformation
4. Define secularism: Having no religious or spiritual basis: not pertaining to or connected with
religion; related to concerns of the world
5. Who was Niccolo Machiavelli and what were his beliefs about government?
He was a politician in Florence. He wrote “the Prince,” a guidebook in how to secure &
maintain political power. He argued that the most successful rulers were not those who acted
according to laws or conscience, but those who were willing to do whatever was necessary to
hold power (the end justifies the means)
6. How did the printing press impact the Renaissance?
Allowed the for the mass production of printed books, which improved literacy rates, and
encouraged the spread of new ideas
Reformation
1. What was the Reformation?
Movement that begun in Germany by Martin Luther in 1517 in which many Christians left the
Catholic Church for Protestant Churches
2. What caused the Reformation?
Martine Luther, a Augustinian Monk, posted his 95 Theses to a church door in which he
challenged the Pope’s rights to sell indulgences & conclude that only through faith in God
could a person be saved and go to Heaven.
3. What impact did the Reformation have in the following areas?
Political
Intellectual
Religious unity of Western Europe was shattered
Thirty Years War
Literacy rates increased with invention of printing press (everyone should read
the Bible for themselves)
Artistic
Different styles of art emerged: Catholic- glorified Jesus, Mary & the Saints
Protestant- felt wrong to depict God, specialized in landscapes/still life scenes
Economic
Weakening of Papal authority may have stimulated economic growth where
Church no longer collected taxes
Religions
Creation of Protestant Churches: Lutheran Church, Anglican Church,
John Calvin: predestination
4. How did the printing press impact the Reformation?
Allowed the for the mass production of printed books, which improved literacy rates, and
encouraged the spread of new ideas
5. Who was Martin Luther and what were his beliefs about Christianity, particularly about the path to
salvation??
Luther was an Augustinian Monk who in 1517 posted his 95 Theses on a church door in
Germany. He challenged the Pope’s right to sell indulgences. He believed neither the Priests
or the Pope had special powers to provide salvation to individuals, only through faith in God
could a person be saved and go to Heaven