Discussion Notes Flashcards
(106 cards)
Why do the authors argue that it is useful to think of Europe, Asia, and Africa as a single ‘Afro-Eurasian supercontinent’?
It highlights the extensive trade networks, cultural exchanges, and interconnectedness among these regions.
How do the authors define the term state?
The organized exercise of power over a specific territory and the people who live in it.
What is the definition of sovereignty?
The claim to exercise power and authority over a territory and its people.
What does legitimacy refer to in the context of governance?
The justification for a ruler’s authority, which can be based on various factors.
What type of state is described as an empire?
A type of state that seeks to expand its control over diverse territories and peoples.
How does the concern for SSLE apply to the rise of the Ottoman Turks?
They established a powerful state that claimed sovereignty and integrated diverse populations.
What was the ‘biological old regime’?
A historical period characterized by limited technological advancements and stable population growth.
What were the ‘great disruptions of the fourteenth century’?
The Black Death and social, economic, and political upheaval.
Why did the first Spanish arrivals covet possessing an encomienda?
It granted them the right to extract labor and tribute from indigenous populations.
How did the Aztec Empire become powerful?
Through military conquest, strategic alliances, and a tribute system.
How did the Spanish approach to the New World change by the early 1500s?
It shifted from exploration and trade to conquest and colonization.
What major revisions do the authors highlight regarding the Spanish Conquest?
The role of indigenous allies, the impact of disease, and the complexity of social structures.
What was the purpose of the 1494 Treaty of Tordesillas?
To divide newly discovered lands between Spain and Portugal and prevent conflict.
How did the Philippines become a Spanish, Catholic colony?
Through the efforts of Spanish explorers and missionaries who established settlements.
What opportunities and limits did Europeans confront in their dealings with Asian powers?
Opportunities included access to trade markets; limits included strong centralized authorities.
Who was Niccolò Machiavelli?
An Italian diplomat and philosopher known for his work ‘The Prince.’
What was Machiavelli’s major contribution to political life?
A pragmatic approach to politics emphasizing power and statecraft.
What was controversial about Machiavelli’s work?
It challenged religious and ethical frameworks in governance.
How was the Muslim world divided during the early-modern period?
Due to sectarian differences and rivalries among Islamic states.
From what sovereign entity did the Netherlands become independent?
The Spanish Empire.
What prompted the resistance that led to the Netherlands’ independence?
The oppressive rule of King Philip II of Spain.
What was Thomas Hobbes’s major contribution to political theory?
His argument for a strong centralized authority in ‘Leviathan.’
How did Hobbes’s ideas challenge traditional notions of governance?
He suggested legitimacy was based on social contract rather than divine right.
How does the Chinese idea of the Mandate of Heaven differ from the European concept of divine right?
Tianming is conditional on a ruler’s ability to govern justly.