Early+Modern+Period

The Early Modern Period:

001: p. 342- 347 Notes:

 * The World Map Changes:**
 * emergence of new empires that replace the smaller political units that preceded the postclassical era
 * European acquisition of overseas areas
 * landbased empires in Asia and Europe:
 * Russian and Ottoman empires over European and Asian territory
 * Mughal Empire over Indian subcontinent
 * Trade routes:
 * 1450 --> international trade focused on exchanges among Asia, Africa, and Europe across overland routes and seaways in Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea
 * 1750 --> ocean routes across Pacific to Atlantic
 * contact w/ Americas and Pacific Oceania
 * Triggers for Change:**
 * revival of empire building:
 * Ottoman Turks conquering Constantinople
 * extended rule over most Byzantine territories and beyond, implementing Muslim power
 * 1450 --> explorations by Europeans along the Atlantic coast of Africa:
 * motivated by desire to find ways to trade w/ east Asia that would circumvent centers of Islamic power
 * new military technologies:
 * European mariners began to use compassed and other navigational devices
 * learned to design better sailing ships
 * larger, sturdier, armed with cannon and had great capacity
 * military technology:
 * guns and gunpowder
 * played vital role in creation of new empires on land and overseas
 * affected political patterns with Africa, Japan, and Europe
 * The Big Changes:**
 * forging of a new global economy
 * increase of international trade
 * incluing Americas in exchange and incorporating them in international affairs
 * biological exchanges of food, animals, and people
 * foods from Americas, ie: corn and potato began to be grown in Asia, Europe
 * along w/ agricultural innovations, these led to pop. increase
 * introduction of new diseases into Americas and Pacific Island territories by Europeans
 * decimated native populations
 * decline in pop. encouraged new migrations
 * esp. by Europe and Africa into Americas
 * horses impacted life in Americas
 * "Columbian Exchange"
 * Emergence of new empires due to guns and gunnery:
 * gunpowder empires formed large political units
 * new empires in India, Middle East, southern Europe, Russia challenged political traditions in their imperial territories, while Spain, Portugal, France, England, Netherlands expanded overseas
 * *these three developments led to shifts in world power --> world position of Western Europe
 * Continuity**
 * no global cultural change
 * notable developments took place within individual societies
 * new influence of science in western Europe
 * rise of Japanese Confucianism
 * continuation of spread of world religions
 * Islam encompassed southeast Asia, parts of southeastern Europe
 * Christianity in America
 * no systematic changes occurred in gender relations in the early modern period
 * African slave trade affected gender balances on both sides of Atlantic
 * more men than women were seized in Africa
 * --> led to polygamy in Africa due to scarcity of husbands
 * no new technology besides military innovations until after 1750's
 * guns and gunnery
 * little change in agriculture besides foodstuffs
 * China --> maintained system of government
 * Africa --> divine kingship
 * Impact on Daily Life: Work**
 * changes of early modern period affected ordinary people in many parts of world
 * Indians in Americas died by thousands because of diseases like smallpox and measles brought by Europeans and African immigrants
 * Europeans exchanged silver for Chinese silk
 * led to collecting of silver as tax --> deeper poverty
 * Africans were subjected to passage to Americas
 * Social change: pressure to work harder
 * early modern world becoming more commercial and crowded
 * demand for labor
 * race-based slavery
 * child labor

002: In Depth: Causation and the West's Expansion p.354

 * 1) **If you had to choose a single determinism (cultural, technological, or economic) as basic to social change, which one would you pick? Why?**
 * 2) Cultural determinism would play an important role in social change. This is because a nation/ group's cultural perspective would coincide with both its technology and economy. This is best exhibited thoguh China's Neo-Confucianist idealogy. During the Tang and Song dynasties of China, trade took place, but China was only nominally trade, as it served as an exporter rather than an importer. It believed that it was the best nation and that its culture need not be diminished by outside influences. This led to lack of improvement in the technology field. The Europeans and the west, however, were an ambitious, imperialistic group that incorporated the innovation of Chinese gunpowder and guns, and thus were able to be immensely successful in establishing itself as a superpower in the world. With gunpowder, the Europeans were able to fortify their ships with cannons and conquer much the the Americas. The difference between the Europeans and the Chinese, was that the Europeans were more open to outside innovations, while the Chinese remained confined to the belief that they produced the best technologies and outside influences were obsolete.
 * slave trade was less money, helped with economy --> economic determinism
 * brought diseases
 * economic --> paved role for other two changes
 * trading led to spread of cultural ideas and currency
 * 1) **In what ways might the professed motives of Western explorers and colonists have differed from their real motives? Would they necessarily have been aware of the discrepancy?**
 * 2) One way that the professed motives of explorers differed from their real is that they can state that they are venturing to a new land for a certain reason, but their motive is another. An example of this would the the Puritan exploration of the New World. Supposedly, the were going to the New World to claim land in the name of King James, but in actuality, they were fleeing religious persecution. They would be aware of this discrepancy, because it is their group's opportunity for religious freedom. Another motive would be the desire to reach a certain location, but instead, reaching another location. This was exemplified through Christopher Columbus' discovery of the Americas. He believed he discovered India. In this case, he was not aware of the discrepancy, because to his knowledge, he was in India. Also, a motive could be to settle land, but then the personal motive being fame and fortune in this new land.
 * came to America to explore land, and were overwhelmed when they discovered people already there
 * more subjugating people than exploring the land
 * de Gama believed that the Indians were Christians

Guns, Germs, and Steel Notes:

Conquest
 * mercenary spanish soliders (comquistadores) led by pizarro
 * south into unknown territory --> first europeans to climb andes in S.A.
 * 1530's pinnacle of Inca empire
 * what gave pizarro and men enormous power?
 * spread of agriculture --> beginning from Fertile Cresent
 * into parts of north Africa
 * 16th century --> Europeans were dominant with fertile cresent livestock
 * able to fuel more people
 * build more complex societies
 * no animals in new world, except llama
 * conquistadore horse riding ---> military
 * spain had largest army in Europe
 * equipped with best weapons b/c or arms race in Europe
 * 1532 --> guns/ gunpowder
 * inherited metallurgy from fertile cresent
 * toledo swords
 * rapier sword
 * accomodated their dress, men, knights of middle ages
 * pizarro sent de Soto into incan empire
 * incan king inspired fear
 * conquistadores decided to launched surprise attack
 * easier for techology to spread from east to west across eurasia
 * nov. 15. 1532
 * adahualpa unarms soldier
 * celebrates with spaniards
 * pizarro sends out priest
 * adahualpa denounces christianity
 * attacked by spaniards
 * disease --> no vaccines in 16th century
 * african slave brought smallpox
 * exponential spread
 * swept through central america
 * decimated native pop.
 * distribution of farm animals --> animals spread germs

Unit Test Review

 * Region || Major Events || Major Developments || Major Continuities ||
 * Western Europe
 * MI: Though the many reforms that took place in Western Europe challenged previous ideas, Christianity remained a guiding force for future endeavors, and Europeans continued to view themselves as the superior society. || ** Renaissance
 * intellect and arts flourished
 * humanism
 * focusing on humankind on artist and intellectual endeavors
 * Scientific Revolution
 * Enlightenment
 * rise of sciences in England
 * Catholic Reformation
 * reformation of Catholic church, targeting pope
 * Commercial Revolution
 * Spain
 * rise of monarchy with Isabella and Ferdinand || ** Previously accepted ideas are challenged
 * Catholic Church + pope
 * Protestantism established by Martin Luther
 * New technological developments: microscope, telescope, compass
 * <span style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">development of absolute monarchies
 * <span style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">wide spread of knowledge/ information via books and printed text
 * <span style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">bolstered by Johannes Gutenburg's movable block type
 * <span style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Anglican church formed by Henry VIII because Catholic church did not allow him to me polygamous
 * <span style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Heliocentric Theory --> Copernicus
 * <span style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Calvinism- Jean Calvin
 * <span style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">idea of predestination
 * <span style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">emergence of proletariat
 * <span style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">mercantilism
 * <span style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">use of gunpowder
 * <span style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">triangular trade
 * <span style="color: #808000; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">gravity || ** <span style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Christianity as guiding force
 * <span style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">future expansions (missionaries)
 * <span style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Monarchy
 * <span style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">subsistence farming
 * <span style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">triangular trade
 * <span style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">nationalism
 * <span style="color: #808000; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">viewed their on society as superior
 * Ottoman invade Southeastern Europe
 * tried to maintain old political systems
 * Central/South Americas
 * Central/South Americas

MI: In Central America, the Atlantic slave trade, which was a result of Europeans, persisted, leading to development of the plantation economy. The arrival of the Europeans saw introduction of new weapons, foods, and diseases, and Chritianity continued to be the motive for expansion. || ** <span style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">European settlement
 * <span style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">lure of the New World
 * <span style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">1492- Columbus' Voyage
 * <span style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Columbian Exchange
 * <span style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">slavery
 * <span style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Treaty of Tordesillas
 * went to America in hopes of find India
 * Cortes conquest of Mexico
 * Fall of Granada - expulsion of Jews || ** <span style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">encomienda system
 * <span style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">natives subjugated, used for labor
 * <span style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">caste society based on race/ mix
 * <span style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Spanish at top
 * <span style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">mestizos
 * <span style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">conversions of Natives to Christianity
 * <span style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">justification for subjugation, b/c viewed as inferior and barbaric
 * <span style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">arrival of Spaniards/ Conquistadores wiped out large portion of pop. b/c of lack of immunity to small pox, measles, etc.
 * <span style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">introduction of animals, such as horses and cattle - husbandry
 * Portuguese took control of Brazil
 * slaves for free labor
 * exportation of Indians/ natives || * Atlantic Slave Trade continued
 * plantation economy developed, where slave labor heavily utilized
 * Christianity served as motive for European expansion
 * introduction of new weapons and animals by Europeans ||
 * North America:

MI: With European arrival in North America, colonies were established, and disease and goods were spread to the region. The Europeans also incorporated North America into the Columbian exchange. || *
 * European Arrival
 * <span style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Canadian French
 * <span style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">move down Hudson Bay- 1534
 * English colonies in New England served as refuges for fleeing Calvinists
 * 1607 - Virginia - first permanent British settlement
 * 1775- 1783 American Revolution || * Britain growing crowded, motivated many to seek land in New World
 * new setting, people tried to bring Western values/ ideas
 * married younger
 * sometimes mixing of Indian and European
 * caste differences
 * nuclear family unit - more emphasis on children
 * Europeans brought diseases that decimated native pop.
 * introduction of horses and weapons, such as guns
 * Columbian exchange || * Columbian exchange
 * brought goods and diseases ||
 * Russia:

>> || * Agricultural state
 * MI: With the expulsion of the Mongols from Russia, the Romanovs emerged as the ruling family, followed by the Ivans and Pter and Catherine. Russia, under Peter and Catherine was dramatically westerinzed, adapting many western ideals and morals, and the capital of Russia was moved to St. Petersburg to be closer to the West. Serfdom also persisted in Russia. || * -Establishment of the Romonov ruling family
 * Serfdom
 * Multiple peasant rebellions
 * Pugachev
 * manors destroyed, land captured
 * liberation from Tartar control
 * Romanov
 * Ivan I
 * Ivan III
 * Catherine
 * Peter || * Westernization in Russia
 * under Peter and Catherine adaptation of Western morals and ideals
 * Serfdom
 * enslavement of own people for labor
 * power of boyars/ nobles waned
 * shaved mustaches, wear Western style clothing
 * military expansion
 * passing the whip abolished
 * educational and social reform
 * elementary schools, universities
 * relocation of capital to St. Petersburg
 * serfdom
 * led to social unrest
 * St. Petersburg remains capital
 * closer to west
 * transition from Ivan terrible to Peter the Great ||
 * Middle East:

1453- Ottoman capture Constantinople 1556 Mughal revived || * Ottomans captured Constantinople
 * MI: The Muslim empires of the Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughals emerged, and placed heavy emphasis on public works. Public works were sponsored by the gov't, warrior nobility persisted, and the Sunni/ Shi'a split was prevalent at this time and on. || * Muslim Empires:
 * Ottoman - 1281
 * Safavid - 16th century
 * Mughal -
 * Battle of Lepanto
 * Muslim influences expelled from Europe/ Spain
 * 1250 Ottoman invasion of Europe
 * public works improved under Mehmed II
 * maintain glory of city
 * built mosques
 * warrior nobility
 * absolute monarchy
 * grand vizier led bureaucracy
 * Sunni Ottoman, Mughals/ Shi'a Safavids
 * often waged war
 * Akbar
 * Abbas
 * improved public works and empire
 * Persia restored under Safavids
 * center of learning
 * Safavid warriors --> imperial bureaucracy
 * Persian language used
 * arabic also used || * warrior nobility
 * overlooked designated villages
 * enslaved armies
 * ie. Janissaries
 * schools, mosques, and other public works projects built and financed by gov't
 * Sunni/ Shi'a division
 * Islam ||
 * India:
 * MI: With the arrival of the Europeans, such as de Gama, the economy was dominated by Europeans, esp. the spice trade. || * de Gama first arrival -1498
 * mistaken Indians for Christians, believing temples were churches
 * had gold and traded for little spices, b/c did ot bring anything worth trade(iron materials)
 * de Gama's return
 * took over trade via warfare, due to lack of goods to trade
 * threatened and killed merchants
 * French/ British presence in India
 * Mughals || * British exerted influence in India
 * est. trading outposts
 * used as source for goods, such as spices
 * ineffective attempts to obtain goods and spices by Portuguese
 * tried to set up forts
 * some Christian conversion ||  ||
 * China


 * MI: In China, the arrival of the Europeans led to population boom as a result of introduction of new goods, improvement of technology, and renewed interest in outside world. Eventually, China's access to the outside world was limited. || * Arrival of Europeans
 * Ming Dynasty - 1368
 * Zhu Yuanzhang
 * 1498-1499 de Gama trade route around Africa and Asia || ** <span style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">addition to world economy
 * <span style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Christian missionaries gain some sort of ground in China
 * <span style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">population boom, as a result of American crops: maize, sweet potatoes, peanuts --> decreased famine
 * use of silver and other materials as tax
 * increased standard of living
 * created dependency on world goods, which later led to demise
 * traded silk textiles and other goods
 * invading Middle Kingdom
 * spread religion
 * adjusted calendars, introduced new technologies, such as clocks
 * Macao and Canton settlements
 * scholar gentry
 * rid abuses of power in court politics
 * literature and arts flourished
 * renewed interest with outside world
 * limited European contact || * pop. boom due to decrease in famine and stable food source
 * limited contact with outside world
 * social structure
 * distinction b/t rich and poor ||
 * Japan

MI: Initially, while Japan was under Nobunaga, interaction between the Europeans and the Japanese occurred freely, and Christian conversions took place. Under HIdeoshi, however, Japan moved more towards isolationism and prohibition of Christianity. || * 1590- Japan unified under Hideyoshi, after death of Nobunaga
 * less tolerant of Europeans/ missionaries
 * European arrival
 * Christian conversion
 * 1614 banned Christianity
 * 1640 - Japanese isolation || ** <span style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">availability of goods brought by traders, from India, China, southeast Asia
 * <span style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">traded them for silver, copper, pottery, lacquerware
 * <span style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">European traders and missionaries also brought firearms, printing presses, Western clocks
 * <span style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">few Christian converts
 * <span style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">after Nobunaga, either killed or imprisoned
 * technological innovation
 * firearms, clocks, etc
 * 1640s --> trade limited to only Dutch and Chinese || * resentment of the Europeans, preventing interaction between regions
 * isolationism
 * hostility towards Christianity
 * maintained own religion ||
 * Africa

MI: With the arrival of the Europeans, esp. the Portuguese, Africa became a part of the world economy, with the slave trade, which caused gender imbalances, and supplementing of the plantation economy in the Americas. || * Portuguese ships pushed down African coast, reaching Cape of Good Hope, where factories, such as El Mina were established
 * gold mining took place at such forts
 * African slave trade - 1441- first shipment of slaves
 * Missionary efforts to convert rulers of Benin, Congo
 * Nzinga Mvemba, whom them led to conversions of his people
 * Dutch colony at Cape of Good Hope est. by Boers || * Imbalance in ratio of males and females
 * men were worth more
 * Indies Piece
 * rise of slavery in Americas
 * supplemented plantation economy w/ labor
 * rise ^
 * Middle Passage - slaves forced into cargo compartments, with ratio of dead overwhelmingly greater than surviving
 * Saltwater vs Creole
 * African-born/ American, mixed
 * Abolitionists John Wesley, William Wilberforce
 * 1807- British slave trade abolished
 * 1888- full abolishment of slavery
 * slave treated stuffed into cargo ships
 * diseases spread || * Atlantic Slave Trade
 * slaves traded
 * led to slavery in America
 * plantation economy
 * high volume of slave owners
 * gender imbalances in Africa and America
 * mostly men captured to be slaves
 * women as concubines
 * slavery abolished in other areas ||


 * Summary:** The world, during the Early Modern Era, advanced closer towards global unification and a world economy, as a result of new interactions and developments. During this time, Western Europe experienced multiple changes, such as the Renaissance, reviving art and intellect, Scientific Revolution, developing new ideas and technologies, ascension of Isabella and Ferdinand in monarchy in Spain, all of which contributed to overseas exploration and settlement. Christianity served as a motive for their overseas endeavors, and new technologies, such as better ships, compasses, improved maps enabled them to travel. Europe in the early modern era grew increasingly imperial and focused on mercantile values. The arrival of the Europeans in many of these areas led to major changes. In Africa, the Portuguese advanced down the coast to the Cape of Good Hope, establishing forts and factories, such as El Mina. These forts served as places for gold mining. With European presence in Africa, this area was incorporated into the world economy, serving as a source of slaves and labor to other regions. This led to gender imbalances, as males were captured as slaves and women as concubines. Culture-wise, Africa did not experience much change, except for some Christian conversions. In the Americas, there was the enforcing of the encomienda system, in which the natives were subjugated and used as a source of labor. Slavery, in North America, esp., became prevalent because of the importation of slaves from Africa. This also contributed to the plantation economy. the Europeans introduced multiple things into these regions, including new animals/ husbandry, such as horses, as well as diseases, like small pox and measles. In both North and Central Americas, this led to a decimation in native pop., and allowed for conquerers, such as Hernan Cortes to capture the regions with such celerity and ease. This region was connected to Europe, Africa, and others, where it would provide raw materials to Europe, Europe would provide manufactured goods, and Africa, exported slaves. This was part of the mercantile mindset of Britain, for it to export more than it imports. In Russia, following the expulsion of the Tartars, the Romanovs emerged as the ruling family. They were succeeded by the Ivan, and then Peter and Catherine. Under Peter and Catherine, the trend of westernization was set. They looked to the west for ideas, morals, cultures, as well as depending on them economically. At this time, the serfdom, the economic system prevailed, but often led to rebellions, such as the Pugachev, because of upper class oppression. Also under Peter, the power of boyars/ nobles were limited, ie. shaving of beards and dressing in Western attire. In the Middle East, Muslim empires sprung up, such as the Ottomans and Safavids. They are based on Islam, and are often hostile over the Sunni/ Shi'a split. Under these empires, the Arab world began, once again, to revive and improve on military, economy, intellectual thinking, with establishment of universities sponsored by the gov't. Architecture, public works, and religious tolerance also improved in the Arab world during this time. European arrival in China during the Ming dynasty led to renewal in interest of the outside world. When Europeans invaded the Middle Kingdom, they attempted to gain Christian converts, adjusted calendars, brought new crops, such as potato, peanuts, which overall, led to a population boom in China. At this time, China also fixed the abuses of power in the scholar gentry. Silver gained from trade with the Europeans led to a dependence on European goods, and also increased standard of living, which eventually led to Ming dynasty's demise. Overall, China reverted back to the belief that they are culturally superior, and continued to limit trade with the outside world. Japanese contact with the Europeans, initially, was accepting, but with a change in rulers, from Nobunaga to Hideyoshi, Japanese tolerance of Europeans grew hostile. They no longer accepted Christianity, and Christian converts were either killed or imprisoned. The European contact with the Japanese did introduce firearms and other technological innovations that helped it win multiple wars. Japan, under Hideyoshi and on, experienced limited trade, exclusively with the Dutch and Chinese.