World at 1500 A.D.

1
World at 1500 A.D.
2
Europe
3
England

• By 1500 England had consolidated power and
  established hereditary succession
• The Magna Carta (1215) limited the kings power
  and granted rights to the nobility
• While still feudalistic, England was beginning to
  engage in more trade and money as a form of wealth

4
France

• By 1500 France had developed as an important
  European country
• Hereditary succession was well established
• A sense of French nationalism had developed after
  the Hundred Years War

5
Spain

• Between 711 and 1492 Spain had been religiously
  diverse home to Jews, Muslims, and Christians
• By 1492 the Christian Reconquista was complete
  expelling ALL Jews and Muslims
• Spains unity and nationalism developed out of
  Catholic religious zeal
• Inquisition developed to try all non-Catholics

6
Russia

• By 1500 Russia had been conquered and ruled by
  the Mongols for a couple centuries
• Ivan the Terrible began to defy the weakening
  Mongols and eventually liberated Russia from
  Mongol rule
• IMPACT Russia was behind western Europe in
  economic development and technology.

7
Asia
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Ottoman Empire

• Ottoman Empire emerged from Central Asia
• They had been slowly taking over the Byzantine
  Empire
• By 1500, the Ottomans had taken over Istanbul and
  were a major force in the world

9
Persia

• An ancient empire that was in decline by 1500
• They were Muslim, rich in culture, and wealthy by
  trade
• By 1500 they were taken over by the Safavid Empire

10
China

• An ancient culture that had flourished in
  technology and trade
• Compass, paper, fireworks, silk
• By 1500, they closed themselves off to most all
  foreign contact including trade

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Mughal India

• Muslim culture that invaded Hindu India
• Created religious tension that led to near
  constant conflict
• They dominated India for a couple centuries

12
Africa
13
Songhai Empire

• Muslim farmers took over trading kingdoms of West
  Africa
• Waged constant war for more territory
• Fell by 1600 AD

14
The Americas
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Incan Empire

• Located in the Andes Mountains of South America
• Excellent engineers
• Suspension bridges, stone structures, terraced
  farming
• Conquered by Spain (Pizarro) in the 1500s

16
Mayan Empire

• Ancient, polytheistic civilization located on the
  Yucatan Peninsula (modern day Mexico)
• Famous for astronomy and pyramids
• Worshippers of the sun

17
Aztec Empire

• Highly civilized, polytheistic Indians located in
  modern day central Mexico
• Warriors who built a very structured civilization
  around sun worship
• Many of their pyramids still exist