t world in 1492 redone

The Grand Tour: Europe

• Wanted Asian wealth.

• Enjoyed delicacies of Chinese and Japanese trade and inventions.

• Asians thought

Europe barbaric.

• Had to go to Asia,

not vice versa.

The Great Traditions

• Four major forms of civilization

– Islam (“gunpowder empires”)

– Hindu (caste structure)

– China (familial form

of governmental organization)

– Europe (feudal kingdoms)

The Staff of Life

• Food scarcity under multiplying populations

• Yield per seed was very low; turned Europeans aggressive

• Europe always discontent

• Reliable irrigation

– (new technology)

The Grand Tour: China and Japan

• China richest, most powerful empire

• Paper, gunpowder and compass made in China

• China and Japan wealthy

• Chinese silk

Travel