Transcript Development and interaction of cultures

History of Europe
Project by
Edwin Cho, Anthony Chan, Doris
Chen, Julia Cha, Riaad Persaud,
Lecvy Chan, James Chen
Europe: 8000 B.C.E. to 600 B.C.E
Europe 2000 B.C.E
Nomadic and huntergatherer groups spread
throughout Europe
across the East to
towards the West. With
the development of
agriculture, sedentary
settlements appeared
along with complex
political organizations.
Interaction between humans and the
environment
 There were loosely grouped farmers, nomads, and huntergatherers in Europe from 7000 B.C.E. to 2000 B.C.E.
 Indo-European tribes gradually settled in most of Europe
during this period. Some intermingled with existing groups. An
Italic tribe settled in Italy. The Celts migrated from central
Europe to the Western areas.
 The earliest known civilization in this region is in Minoan Crete
during 2700 B.C.E.
 Early Greeks arrived at around 1600 B.C.E and formed
Mycenaean civilization.
 From the bronze and iron age, there were many utensils and
tools made to aid humans.
 Megaliths were constructed in Western Europe and the
Mediterranean during the Neolithic age (i.e. Stonehenge in
England)
Development and interaction of
cultures
 Prehistoric societies buried their dead,
worshipped deities, and practiced religious
rituals.
 Early forms of religion (i.e. ancestor worship,
animism, and shamanism)
 Many believed in afterlife and sacrifices to
please deities/gods.
 Cultural diffusion allowed for exchange of
ideas, religious beliefs between societies.
State-building, expansion, and conflict
 Villages throughout the continent were
common due to agriculture.
 With an increase in population and surplus of
food, it allowed for development of
specialized skills.
 Led to the formation of political organizations
(elite classes, bureaucracies, monarchies,
oligarchies).
 Building of empires through military conquest.
 Development of weapons and city defense
due to nomadic attacks.
Creation, expansion, and interaction of
economic systems
 Early societies were based on hunting and
foraging.
 Development of agriculture allowed for the
transition from a nomadic to sedentary life.
 Led to class distinction, specialization of labor.
 Idea and concept of private property.
 Mediterranean Trade was active throughout the
period. Phoenicians trade with the Greeks
introduced them to alphabets and new ideas.
 Trade networks followed waterways for ease.
 Cities as centers of cultural exchange and trade.
Development and transformation of
social structures
 Most societies were patriarchal but few
prioritized women.
 Early social units were developed (i.e. clans
based on kinship)
 Because of agriculture, there was gender
division.
 Specialization of labor led to an early form of
social differences (i.e. aristocrats, merchants,
peasants)
 Slavery was common since manual labor was
needed for early formation of societies.
Europe: 600 B.C.E. to 600 C.E.
Europe 500 B.C.E
Greek and Etruscan
civilization are forming,
while Celts and other
Indo-European groups
are spread out in the area.
Interaction between humans and the
environment
 Around 500 BCE, Celtic-speaking peoples settled
throughout continental Europe from the central region.
 Asiatic and Germanic people migrated from east to
west.
 Rome’s central location in Italy and the Mediterranean,
and its ability to draw on the manpower resources of
Italy, were important factors in its rise to empire.
 Larger impact on environment (i.e. expansion of
farming, canals, structures)
 Roman Aqueducts brought water to large cities.
Development and interaction of
cultures
 The Celts worshiped many gods in natural settings. The Druids, a priestly
class in Gaul (France) and Britain, played a major role in religion, education,
and intertribal legal matters.
 New ideas in Greece challenged traditional notions, leading to individualism,
science, and history.
 In the Hellenistic Age, Greeks borrowed from the ancient heritages of Egypt
and Mesopotamia.
 Constantine’s embrace of Christianity in the early 4th century CE made it
virtually the official religion of the empire.
 Trade and missionary activity allowed for spreading of religions.
 The Arch revolutionized architecture. Concrete was also first used.
State-building, expansion, and conflict
 The Roman Empire’s conquest of Celtic lands, followed later by Germanic
invasions, pushed the Celtic language and culture to the western edge of the
European continent.
 Sparta and Athens, though part of the same Greek civilization, evolved politically
in different directions: Sparta toward a military oligarchy, Athens to democracy.
 In the mid-fourth century BCE, Philip II made Macedonia into a military power
and forcibly united the Greek city-states.
 Early Rome was ruled by kings, but the Republic, inaugurated shortly before
500BCE, was guided by the Senate, a council of the heads of wealthy families.
 Roman expansion, first in Italy, then throughout the Mediterranean, was due to
several factors: the ambition and desire for glory of its leaders, weaker states
appealing to Rome for protection, and Roman fear of others’ aggression.
 The civil wars that brought down the Republic were fought by armies more loyal
to their leaders than to the state.
 Augustus developed a new system of government, the Principate, and while
claiming to restore the Republic, he really created a military dictatorship.
Creation, expansion, and interaction of
economic systems
 Greeks conducted most of their commercial activity
by boat, aided by Greece’s coastal position.
 They replaced the barter system with a money
system and Athens became a wealthy city at the
center of the commercial activity.
 In Rome, Augustus established a common
coinage.
 In Western Rome 476CE, there were tax revolts by
the upper class and the church was exempt from
taxes. There was a decrease in trade upon which
the economy depended on.
Development and transformation of
social structures
 Celts lived in relatively small kinship (tribal) groups that
were dominated by warrior elites. Hill-forts served as
places of assembly and refuges.
 Athenian male citizens were able to participate in
government and politics by restricting the rights and
exploiting the labor of slaves and women.
 Within Italy, and later in the overseas provinces, Rome
co-opted the elites of subject peoples and extended its
citizenship. Subjects in the western provinces adopted
the Latin language and Roman lifestyle.
 New law codes made societies more stable
 Common forms of forced labor and slavery.
 The Urban poor was formed. They are known as the
Proletariat.
Europe: 600 C.E. to 1450
Europe 750 C.E.
The Frankish kingdom is
formed and dominates central
Europe.
The Muslim invaders controlled
the Iberian peninsula.
The Byzantine Empire is
beginning to be overtaken by
the Arabs.
Interaction between humans and the
environment
 Goths and Vandals invaded and settled in central
Europe and Iberian peninsula.
 Europe faced a population boom in the 13th
century due to warm climate.
 Bubonic plague wiped out one third of Europe’s
people.
 Urban Areas revived and more people settled in
towns and cities.
 Watermills, stirrups, and plows were used during
this period. The plow was able to increase food
production
 Long Bows and Cannons were introduced in the
Late Middle Ages.
Development and interaction of
cultures
 Christianity was the dominant religion in Europe,
although many people chose to belong to other
religion.
 Muslim invaders brought their religion to the
Iberian peninsula.
 Constantinople was a center of Cultural
development and knowledge.
 Monasteries was able to preserve Greek and
Roman teachings and manuscripts.
 There was a religious tie to art and architecture.
Romanesque architecture dominated most of the
period, until Gothic architecture was introduced.
State-building, expansion, and conflict
 The decentralized authority made Feudalism a favorable system. Although
there were kings, local lords and nobles held the most power in their
manors.
 Starting around 800, the Frankish kingdom was ruled by the Carolingian
Dynasty, and under Charlemagne it expanded to contain most of western
and central Europe.
 The Holy Roman Empire was decentralized.
 Because of the growing gap between the rich and the poor, the peasants
rose in rebellion and revolt.
 The crusades allowed Europe to interact with the outside world. The first
crusades around 1096 gave Europe control of Jerusalem and other lands.
Later crusades however were sponsored for greed, and lost causes
 Around the mid 1300’s plague, also known as the black death caused
drastic population decline that took 150 years to rebuild. It was also a factor
for the backwardness of medieval Europe.
 Magna Carta in England limited the King’s power. This also allowed a more
representative government.
Creation, expansion, and interaction of
economic systems
 With the introduction of the 3-fields system, plow, and warmer
climates, agricultural production was greatly increased.
 With the help of Crusades, old trade routes were revived
 The bank was invented by Italian traders during the middle
ages, and they were called merchant banks. They were
important because they helped finance for long trade
journey’s.
 The Italian ports of Venice and Genoa were important trading
centers and so was the Baltic Sea which was moderated by
the Hanseatic League
 In cities, guilds controlled trade and set standards for
products. This meant there was little or no competition and
profit was minimal.
 Labor was all done by serfs in the Manor. The serfs had to
tend to the lands and other labor work.
Development and transformation of
social structures
 Men were seen as superior to women. However, the code of
chivalry gives respect and honor to women.
 Noblewomen were respected and had more rights, but were
unable to arrange marriage.
 Christianity was the main marker of difference. People who
weren’t Christian were most likely resented.
 Muslims and Jews were never on even terms with Christians,
and after the crusades, tension and conflicts further divided
Muslims and Christians.
 Feudalism was the main social structure of medieval Europe.
Kings were at the top of the social classes, but had little
power. Nobles were at the top of the social classes within the
manor. Serfs were peasants that has to work for the nobles.
Europe: 1450 to 1750
Europe 1453
The Fall of the Byzantine
Empire gives rise to the
Ottoman Empire.
Much of Europe is still a
loosely tied kingdom.
R
Interaction between humans and the
environment
 Columbian Exchange brought new types of
crops to Europe (ex. Potatoes, maize,
tomatoes, peanuts) lead to population
increase.
 Cash crops like tobacco were more readily
available in Europe.
 Some Europeans began to settle in the
Americas.
 Invention of the printing press helped spread
ideas.
Development and interaction of
cultures
 Reformation (1517-1648) led to split between Catholics,
Protestants, Anglicans.
 Tension and religious persecution caused many people to
migrate to New World.
 Scientific Revolution (1550-1700)- with the invention of the
printing press, growth of universities, people start to focus on
reason instead of religion.
 Revolutionary ideas about astrology, physics, mathematics,
biology etc.
 Baroque style Art (1600-1750): highly emotional and ornate.
 Enlightenment (1650-1789)- emphasized human’s capability
to reason
 Philosophers have ideas that humans have certain inalienable
rights.
State-building, expansion, and conflict
 Unification and centralization in countries
 Parliamentary democracy (powers from
parliament) v. Absolute Monarchs who had
unlimited power in the government.
 Glorious Revolution – war between
Parliament and King. Parliament believes the
King has too much power, advocates
parliamentary democracy
 Exploration leads to the formation of colonies
in the Americas, cape colony, and Indonesia.
With exploration also came nationalism.
Creation, expansion, and interaction of
economic systems
 Commercial Revolution
 Population increase especially in Western Europe 
expansion of consumer market
 Influx of gold and silver led to inflation
 Mercantilism
 Promoted positive balance of trade, or having more
exports than imports. Encouraged countries to have
colonies that provide raw materials as well as a market to
trade with
 Triangular slave trade
 Europeans began importing slaves from Africa in the 16th
century for a work force.
 Triangular trade: manufactured goods from Europe to
Africa, slaves from Africa to Americas, crops from
Americas to Europe
Development and transformation of
social structures
 Most societies still patriarchal and male-dominated
 Women have limited access to professions,
businesses.
 With the Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment,
women found ways to gain influence and spread
political ideas. (Ex: women held salons for thinkers
to come and share ideas)
 Growth of middle class led to women starting to be
more educated. Women physicians, artists, writers
 Previous to 1450, the only classes were made up
of the noble landowners and peasants.
 Middle class growth blurred the line between
nobles and peasants.
Europe: 1750 to 1914
Europe 1914
Europe is at the Brink of
World War I. Nations are
better formed and more
centralized
Interaction between humans and the
environment
 Mass migration of peasants from the rural areas
to the urban cities in search for work in factories.
 Rapid growth of cities because of
industrialization. (London grew from 500,000 in
1700 to 2 million by 1850.)
 Europeans migrated to the Americas to seek job
opportunities.
 Extensive use of Earth’s resources (i.e.
deforestation)
Development and interaction of
cultures
 The Enlightenment Period and Age of Reason –
emergence of new political and philosophical
ideas. Enlightenment ideals such as equality
became very influential in many parts of the
world.
 Western culture influenced Asian and African
areas through colonization. European artists like
the Impressionists were influenced by African
sculptures, woodwork and Japan’s designs.
State-building, expansion, and conflict
 French Revolution – methods of scientific inquiry political
structures and forms of govt (1789)
 The rise of nationalism from French Revolution. Nation
became new concept of identity.
 Nationalism became basis for revolutions elsewhere and
Western imperialism. German unification in 1871 was a
product on nationalism.
 Imperialism(1869-1914) – European nations were driven
by need for raw materials for industries.
 “Scramble for Africa”, treaties with China, and British rule
in India are all examples of imperialism.
Creation, expansion, and interaction of
economic systems
 Agricultural Revolution – allowed for a surplus and variety of food.
 Technological Revolution - mass production through division of labor
 Mechanization and new technology (steam engine, manufacture of iron,
electricity)
 Industrial Revolution (1750-1850) – originated in Britain due to both the
Tech. and Agri. Rev.
 Divide world into industrialized nations and non-industrialized (or
developing) nations. Industrialized nations imperialized areas to protect
economic interests.
 Improved transportation – railroads and steamships
 Capitalism: favors private ownership. Encourages a free market economy.
 Socialism: critiqued the money economy and suggested an economy run by
the workers. Property was owned in common and work was shared.
Development and transformation of
social structures
 Rise of Bourgeoisie – large middle class who benefited
in business enterprises.
 Rise of Proletariat – large working class in the factories
and big industries
 Cult of Domesticity – justified removal of women from
workplace and limited them to domestic work.
 Ideology against capitalism – socialism developed by
Marx who supported communism, equal distribution of
wealth, no social class. Wanted a “workers’ state.”
Capitalism is the exploitation of the proletariat by the
bourgeoisie.
Europe: 1914 to present
Europe during
World War II
Interaction between humans and the
environment
 During Industrial Revolution, environmental
exploitation increased exponentially.
 Migration for political or economic reasons
has contributed to global culture.
 1960s: Movement of people from developing
countries to industrialized countries (southern
Europe to Western Europe.
 Post world war helped bring technology to the
consumers. Radio, electrical appliances,
aviation, and spread of cinema was
introduced early in the time period.
Development and interaction of
cultures
 New technologies and weapons increased the conflict of WW
I and was more devastating than any war to date.
 Postwar period throughout West and in Asia saw economic
growth through advances in technology
 Importance of oil as a source of energy: OPEC (1960)
established by oil producing countries.
 Space Race – Soviet Union developed both manned and
unmanned space programs. (1950s – 1970s)
 Medical Breakthroughs from WWII medical field. Excelled in
ultrasound and laser surgery.
 Global culture was created as a result of new technology.
 New Social Sciences began to question the conscience and
existence.
State-building, expansion, and conflict
 Bolshevik Revolution – built up Soviet Union with (Red
Guard)
 World War I (1914 – 1918) – first global war, fighting drawnout to colonial assets of the European powers. (total war)
 Rise of Fascism (1920) (Lenin, Stalin in Russia, Nazi
Germany)
 World War II (1939 – 1945) – Causes: Rise of fascism,
German invasion (total war)
 Warsaw Pact and NATO
 Cold War (1945 – 1991) – conflict between US and Soviet
Union; fought via diplomacy and stocking nuclear weapons as
a deterrent against actual war.
 Prague Spring – calls for reforms in communism
 Collapse of Soviet Communism (1989) The USSR broke up
Creation, expansion, and interaction of
economic systems
 Fall of Communism in the Soviet Union
1989 – created new economic and ethnic
problems. Many Communist government
became capitalist.
 Postwar period throughout West saw
economic growth through advances in
technology. Trade with the East was also
high.
 Global commerce and free trade agreements
The European Economic Community – eliminated
tariffs among member nations.
Introduction of euro in 2002. (The EU)
Development and transformation of
social structures
 By 1930, right had been gained by women for right
to vote
 During WWI and WWII, women gained
opportunities outside the home by filling factory
jobs.
 Many Women received suffrage.
 Women Actively participated in the
industrialization efforts of the Soviet Union.
 Women played key roles in Communist
Revolutions in Russia.
 Germany distrusted Jews and other ethnic groups.
This resulted in the Holocaust.
Bibliography
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