Chapter 9: Changing Balance of World Power

• The most important changes in the middle East include new religious emphasis, power over peasantry, and the power of the Ottoman Empire. Lords no longer focused on agriculture, rather they focused on the wealth on their estate.
• First, the cost was too expensive as the Chinese were rebuilding the wall. Secondly, the young emperor wanted his policies to differ from the past, gaining support of Confucian bureaucrats.
• There was famine and disease which prevented their expansion. They learned from Asian technology and strengthened their army in fear of Muslim take over. The Renaissance helped them with innovation and the arts.
• On the Hawaiian islands, regional kingdoms developed with priests and nobles on top and peasants on the bottom. The Polynesians that went to New Zealand (Maori) had slaves similar to the tributes in Americas.
• Zheng He


  Chinese Muslim admiral during Ming dynasty. His expeditions brought goods like animals to Asia/China.
• Renaissance


  The cultural and political movement in Western Europe featuring literature and art with more religious priorities. Stressed secular subjects in literature and art.
• Francesco Petrarch


  Italian author and humanist during the Western Renaissance. He took pride in his city and explored his glory with confidence.
• Castile and Aragon


  Regional kingdoms united under the Spanish monarchy. Promoted the Western's expansion into wider world contacts.
• Vivldis


  2 brothers who disappeared searching for a Western route in the "Indies". Exposed spice-producing areas for Europe.
• Vasco da Gama


  Portuguese captain who sailed around India. He established early Portuguese dominance in Indian ocean.
• Henry the Navigator


  Portuguese Prince who sponsored expeditions along the African coast. He wanted to spread his religion and the expeditions colonized America.