HIS109Y1 Lecture : [8] Realignment of Europe.doc
Document Summary
Shift world from centre of world (mediterranean) to atlantic sea coast. Rise of mercantile economy, confidence, sophistication = came from great sea powers in venice etc. making money by trading with the east. Contact with sophisticated, monied society of islamic world. Demand for luxury goods (slaves, carpets, silk) - spinoffs for managing this (ship buildings, in- surance) This made states of italy rich -- renaissance. Something shattered italy and europe: 1453 - constantinople fell to ottoman turks (broke con- tinuation of roman empire) End of 15th c - islamic turks grew to be most powerful country. Natural result of ottoman victory: constant, violent war (economic, religious) Christians = not as well-favored as islamic turks in the war. Christians were unable to stop muslims from expanding to the west. Mohammed ii (1451-1481): the conquerer -- conquered steadily westward, seemingly in- vincible. Italy didn"t escape -- europeans were terrified (seemed like this would happen to the rest of the peninsula)
