Slavery and New Frontiers
Romans of course had slavery: How was it different
from what Americans think of as slavery?
By 800’s Europe had moved to a serf system rather
than purchasing more slaves. They just made them part
of the land they owned.
As plague killed off population, Italians
reintroduced slavery
From Slavic areas (Slave) and Africans
Were used for:
skilled workers
house labor
concubines
little friends for rich kids!
By 1400’s Italians free their slaves for humanitarian reasons
even though Venice had become wealthy from the trade
Contributing also to Italy ending trade:
*Turks had blocked access to black Sea so
Eastern Europe access blocked
But then…
*Portugese take over the trade
and it is based in Africa
As frontiers change, the treatment of the minorities
change
• At first movement in
Europe to escape plague
led to legal dualism
• Great example would be the Mudejars in
Spain, the Muslim subjects of Christian
monarchs.
• Allowed to be judged under Muslim law.
English are exception to the rule with the Irish
• Harsh discrimination in society
• No wills
• No felony for murder of Irishman
Legal Dualism ends because of competition for
church and government positions as areas rebuild in
1400’s and behave more like developing nations
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Blood line and language begin to matter
Racism emerges in areas which had coexisted
East Europe: Damlimil Chronicle
Ireland: Statute of Kilkenny
German purity concept to not mix with
marriage and to gain top jobs
• Spain against Mudejars and Jews
With exploration racism grows in colonial territories
Motivation to explore
• Economic: precious metals and spices and
new areas of trade. Because Turks were
blocking route to the East they were looking
for a quicker way to go East.
Religion
• Henry the Navigator was interested in
“desire to make increase in the faith of
our Lord Jesus Christ and to bring him
all the souls that should be saved”
• Cortes taking Mexico believed it was
their duty to ensure that Mexicans
“are introduced into and instructed in
The holy Catholic faith”
Because they could
• European monarchs had more money and more
authority by 15th to 16th Century and were looking to
expand and able to fund
Technology
• Maps getting better as more voyages went on.
• Technology better with the rudder from China,
caravels were smaller and faster, compass and
astrolabe, better understanding of the winds
It was easy…relatively
• Technology
Invited as gods
Smallpox
Use of allies since neighbors hated
Aztecs for obvious reasons
Racism, Schism, Exploration, War feeds
into efforts at centralization of Empire
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England
Spain
France
Holy Roman Empire…good luck
Italy doesn’t and weakens itself in the process
England
Centralized under monarch by 1500
• Henry VII appealed to a minute middle class to
control peasants and aristocrats. Used the Star
Chamber to silence nobles, the royal council to
administer national policy and unpaid justices of
the peace to control local government.
• Provided stability which allowed for trade which
made the middle class happy. Avoided war which
bypassed Parliament since didn’t need to ask for
money. Unknowingly this will pave the road for a
more powerful House of Commons, weaker king
and nobles and growing industrial global
economy.
Spain
Not centralized until 1700
• Ferdinand and Isabella also had a council of
middle class which served the same purpose as
England’s royal council.
• Also had justices of peace called hermandades to
control the local governments.
• Negotiated with the pope to have the power to
appoint bishops in Spain which enriched the
monarchy and allowed them to expel Jews and
Muslims. At first allowed “New Christians” then
got more fanatical (inquisition)
• Unknowingly this will harm the economy and
government as skilled people are lost.
France
Centralized around 1500
• Charles VII and then Louis XI also had a council of
middle class which served the same purpose as
England’s and France’s royal council.
• Pragmatic Sanction of Bourges gave French crown
control and wealth over the Church.
• Gabelle and taille raised taxes on salt and land.
• An army paid for with increased trade and high
taxes controlled the peasants.
• Unknowingly set the stage for the French
Revolution where a lot of angry middle class and
peasant folks rise up against the monarchy for
more economic and political control.
Holy Roman Empire
• Confusing. Can’t unify. Too big. Does split
between Spain and Central Europe so Spain
centralizes but Central Europe continues to fall
apart, even more so once Protestants happen.
Italy
• Used the same tactics as other nations but were
city-states and competed against each other for
territory including the Pope.
• Did try to maintain a balance of power by ganging
up on each other if one city looked too powerful.
• This situation was very inviting to foreigners so
France and Austria take their lands. (HabsburgValois wars)
• Won’t unify until 1870