1.

Into the Renaissance/Early Modern Period

a. Briefly describe the political changes from the start of the Middle Ages to the beginning of the
Renaissance.
i. small regions governed by nobles
ii. shifted to
iii. nations lead by kings/monarchs where the kings have power over the nobles
b. Briefly describe the economic changes from the start of the Middle Ages to the beginning of the
Renaissance.
i. agricultural society
ii. shifted to
iii. mix of agricultural-commercial society which leads to the introduction of merchants,
bankers, artisans, etc. (but much more agriculture than commercial)
c. Briefly describe the social changes from the start of the Middle Ages to the beginning of the
Renaissance.
i. 2 class system of nobles and serfs
ii. shifted to
iii. 3 class system of nobles, middle class (commerce people), and serfs
d. How did ones view of the world change in this transition?
i. there was a shift from the world centered around God to a world centered on human/self
ii. for example, in art, you dont know the names of any artists in the Middles Ages because
they didnt sign name, but in Renaissance, there are artists like Raphael and Michelangelo
iii. for example, the Vikings discovered North America during the Middle Ages, but nobody
cared about human achievements then, but when Columbus does the same during the
Renaissance, his name is carved into history
e. Explain the meaning of feudalism and manorialism.
i. Feudalism political system (but has social and military components) of feudal kings of
Germanic tribes. The kings were not civilized or organized, so they could not consolidate
power. The greater lords will form a vassal which is made up of lesser lords. The lesser
lords have a similar vassal, but made up of serfs. Each has allegiance with one another in
this exchange. This is a hierarchical power system were the upper provide food, shelter,
and protection, in return for money, military aid, loyalty, and a work force.
ii. Manorialism economic system made up of a manor, which has various fields for crops.
These were self-sufficient. Normally one field is left fallow and rotated to help keep
nutrients in soil. A rich landlord hires serfs (poor people) who work the land and give
some of the crops to the landlord. The serfs are not slaves. The landlord provides
protection and land for the serfs.
f. Finally, account for the rise of towns in the Middle Ages.
i. There was an increase in farming, which lead to a surplus of food,
ii. also, inventions like the heavy plow and horse collar help shift to animal powered work
rather than human,
iii. allowing some people to move into a town and becomes craftsmen: like merchants,
artisans, and craftsmen (shoemakers, bricklayers, etc.)

2. China
a. What role did the Sui dynasty play in the re-emergence of the empire of China?
i. family who reunited China

b.

c.

d.

e.

f.

ii. Revival of China making it a strong political state, which will soon become the worlds
leading power in agriculture, commerce, and manufactured goods.
iii. The Grand Canal was also dug during this period. This helped combine/connect the North
and South in terms of internal trade, but required lots of taxes, which lead to unrest and
the overthrown of the Sui dynasty
Explain how China became the worlds leading agricultural power in the world. (2)
i. developed a new quick-growing strain of rice, used fertilizers, and has a strong
commercial crop (used as export to get money) of tea and cotton
Explain how China became the worlds leading commercial power in the world. (2)
i. develop a strong internal trade from the Grand Canal, with rice is the south and wheat in
the north. used paper currency. had favorable external trade with Africa, Korea, and Japan
especially with commercial crops of tea and cotton
Explain how China became the worlds leading manufacturing power in the world. (2)
i. developed food processing (dehydrate food and mill), strong ceramic/porcelain making,
and large shipbuilding plants, as well as paper making process => large quantity of
attractive goods
Explain many of the cultural and technological inventions China made in the post-classical
period.
i. Korea and Vietnam => Buddhism, written language, artistic style, Confucianism
ii. Japan => selective borrowing Buddhism is synergistic with Shintoism
iii. development of map making/cartography, writing textbooks dealing with forensics
medicine, first to begin science of criminal investigation, suspension bridge, first to build
locks on canal, magnetic compass, abacus counting instrument ,wheelbarrow, porcelain,
gunpowder (used in firecrackers, not in guns and cannons), and block printing press
What fateful decision did China make under the Ming dynasty in 1433?
i. the emperor decided that they are a superior nation, and the will isolate themselves and
cut off all trade, this cuts them off from current technology, and opens the door for
western Europe to advance

3. Americas
a. What are some of the distinguishing features of the Mayans? (more detail)
i. polytheistic religion,
ii. had cities,
iii. big on human sacrifice,

iv. have written language (glyphs/hieroglyphs) which is very complex and we can only read
about of it today,
v. wrote almanac codices, books about astronomy, most destroyed by Spanish,
vi. had a game called ball court, in center of city, and was played to honor the gods and keep
regularity and good harvest,
vii. very big on bloodletting, honor gods after significant event, king had the best blood, used
to communicate with gods,
viii. buried dead beneath house,
ix. built temples over old temple, but one remained, called the Rosalila Temple, it is the
third inner temple in Copan, found 9 flint knives used to make fire and were very well
preserved and had lots of ornate carvings on them,
x. achievements include very detailed calendar, mathematics including concept of zero, and
were great builders,
xi. the powerful ruler was killed, and faith began to waiver, leading to warfare between
cities,
xii. decline came from growing population, need more food, build more houses on farm
lands, overpopulation/overextension
xiii. erosion and disease, lose of faith in king, slip into dark ages
b. What are some of the distinguishing features of the Incas?
i. had a very long and narrow land area,
ii. lead by a monarchy/dictatorship, powerful/strong,
iii. had achievements of great roads through Andes mountains, huge bridges over gordes,
have small houses along path to rest,
iv. and all done without pack animal or wheel
c. What are some of the distinguishing features of the Aztecs?
i. dictatorship by king, monarchy,
ii. polytheistic,
iii. Central Mexico
iv. gods demand human sacrifice, usually prisoners of war,
v. very strong army, military state,
vi. when Spaniards arrived, natives and Spanish attacked because natives hated cruelty of
Aztecs
d. Explain why these civilizations still had one foot in the Stone Age.
i. missing major developments:
ii. had no ironworking,
iii. no writing (Except for Mayans),
iv. no wheel,
v. no draft/pack animals closest being the llama in Incas
vi. no contact with other groups no trade
4. Mongols
a. Why and how did the Mongols become a formidable force or power?
i. military advantages great equestrians/horse riders, attack in hordes close together
formations, stabilized by iron stirrup, allows for archery on horse, great archers,
promotion based on merit/talent not on family, use ambush tactics [NO USE OF
GUNPOWDER]
ii. Chinggis/Genghis Khan unifies people of Mongolia, identity was clan based, but Khan
extends this to the Mongolian Empire clan
b. How vast was their empire?

i. established largest empire which ever existed in world history

ii. took over China, Russia, and Persia
c. Explain four ways the Mongols had an impact on world history.
i. take over trade routes, and then protect them, so trade is safe (safe passage)
ii. introduce new and revolutionary war strategies, introduce gunpowder to others through
trade, period of peace and stability in Mongolia when in control
iii. interested in spreading new technology through trade, including gunpowder, paper
money, porcelain, medical techniques, printing, and playing cards (all from China)
iv. kept Europe out of foreign control because Turks and Arabs were too preoccupied
fending off Mongols, couldnt go and take over Europe
v. carriers of diseases => black death

5. Europe
a. Explain four reasons why Europeans began to explore new trade routes in the 1400s.
i. a ready merchant class looking to expand trading opportunities
ii. monarchs looking to enhance their new nations pride and prestige
iii. a religion (Christianity) with a missionary and military tradition
iv. an upper class/nobility desiring luxuries and spices from Asia
v. problems with overland trade routes, no longer protected by Mongols, Muslims Turks
attack traders
vi. Italian monopoly on Mediterranean trade routes
vii. need for gold to balance trade deficits with Asia (China), only sell tin, wool, and salt, but
need gold/silver

viii.

development of new technologies like cannons, gunpowder, maps, sailing ship (caravel
small but fast), and magnetic compass
b. Who were the five nations who were the chief contenders for new colonies? Name at least one
location of such colony.
i. Portugal route to Asia via south cape of Africa. Monarch Prince Henry the Navigator
started this and Vasco de Gama is first to do so gets to India, colony in Brazil, because
one trip was thrown off course
ii. Spain fairytale story or Ferdinand and Isabella accepting Columbus idea by path to
Asia across Atlantic, lands in Caribbean set up colonies in Mexico, Caribbean, Florida,
American Southwest, and western South America (Peru)
iii. France came down St. Lawrence River (Canada), through Great Lakes, and down
Mississippi
iv. England last one to party, settle with land along Atlantic coast, location of 13 colonies
(between French Canada and Spanish Florida)
v. Dutch has only 1 spot in North America, which is the port/harbor of New York (called
New Amsterdam), they were more interested in the Cape of Good Hope and Philippians.
They had East Indies and the Cape of Good Hope colony as well.
c. Finally, explain what a trading company is and its role or purpose.
i. semi-private company formed by pooling capital ($$$) and investing it in colonies, like a
corporation would buy and sell stock
ii. Dutch East India Company is the best trading company, was around for 200 years, and
had over 10% return, highly lucrative, and served as model company with great
entrepreneurial talents and skills
iii. share owners get dividends
iv. purpose was to establish colonies to make money, like Jamestown and tobacco