TRANSOCEANIC EMPIRES: EXPANSION AND RESISTANCE

• 1. What were the main empires that took part in the maritime expansion in this period?

  • Spain, Britain, France 
• What were the main regions that these empires expanded into during this period?

  • The Spanish Empire conquered the Caribbean islands, Mexico, the Andes, Philippines, parts of North Africa and the Mediterranean, and had influence on eastern Canada
  • By the 1750s, Britain and France were fighting inter-imperial wars simultaneously in Europe, North America, the Caribbean and India
• What does "private actors" mean in this phase of imperial expansion? Can you note any examples?

  • Noblemen, merchants and warlords were given the freedom and power to explore, seize, and develop new territories and seas in exchange for legal protection. This allowed states to shift the burden of cost to private actors, while gaining the benefits—taxes, territory, trade-of new conquests.
• What were some of the main reasons for the imperial maritime expansions in this period?

  • The main reasons for imperial maritime expansions in this period were economic motives such as acquiring wealth through trade, accessing valuable resources, and establishing colonies for mercantilist purposes. Additionally, there were political motives like increasing power and prestige, as well as religious and cultural factors such as spreading Christianity and European influence
• What product was in demand in Europe and drove plantation economies across the Atlantic Ocean?

  • The demand for sugar skyrocketed in Europe, leading to the establishment of sugar plantations in the Caribbean and the Americas, which relied heavily on enslaved labor from Africa
• Explain the process of state building and expansion among various empires and states in the period from 1450 to 1750?

  • State building and expansion involved centralizing authority, expanding territorial control through conquest and colonization, and often incorporating diverse cultures and peoples into the imperial framework. This process often involved the consolidation of power under strong rulers, the development of bureaucracies to administer large territories, and the use of military force to expand and maintain control
• How did the expansion of european-based empires differ from other examples of state-building that you have encountered in different regions and different periods?

  It differed in that it often involved overseas colonization and the establishment of settler colonies. European empires sought to exploit resources and establish trade networks in distant lands, leading to the displacement and subjugation of indigenous populations. In contrast, state-building often occurred through conquest within contiguous territories, with empires expanding through land-based warfare and diplomacy
• How did the new global networks change societies around the world?

  • They facilitated the exchange of goods, ideas, cultures, and technologies across continents, leading to the globalization of economies and the emergence of interconnected networks of trade and communication. These networks also facilitated the spread of diseases, ideas, and religions, profoundly shaping the social, political, and economic landscapes of both the Old World and the New World
• Portuguese

  • Seized crucial points for trade and control of waterways in sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian Ocean
  • Established fortified coastal trade posts in Africa and colonies in Brazil
• Spanish

  • Expanded colonization beyond Caribbean islands to mainland territories in Mexico, Central America, and the Andes
  • Exploited silver mining and forced labor of indigenous Americans and enslaved Africans to produce valuable crops
• Joint-stock company

  A business organization where shareholders collectively own the company by purchasing shares of stock. Shareholders share in the company's profits and losses and appoint directors to manage its operations.
• Joint-stock companies licensed by states undertook the financial burden of empire building in the 17th century
• French and British used joint-stock companies to fund settlements in North America
• Dutch East India Company


  • Became a powerful economic force, controlling trade in the Indian Ocean and ruling over colonies in Indonesia
  • Dutch control declined by the end of the 17th century, replaced by English and French rivalry
• England and France established colonies in North America and the Caribbean in the early 17th century
• Demand for sugar in Europe led to intensive production in the tropical Americas, giving rise to plantation economies
• British and French colonial projects led to fierce rivalry and a century of wars between the two empires