Transformation of

regions
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
01 Definition of ‘Transformation’ 02 Transformation of Europe

03 Transformation of the united states

04 Transformation of Japan 05 Transformation of China

 01
What is ‘Transformation’?
 Definition of ‘transformation
Transformation:
- brings about change; not only change, but fundamental
change
- a phenomenon that is unique to the modern era
- Drastic change in the political system/ economic
organization / social structure/ cultural behaviour
 Does he undergo a change or transformation?

Change/Transformation Change/Transformation
 Transformation in Regions: Europe, the US, Japan and China
Europe The US Japan China

Time Period 15-16th Century 18th Century 19th Century 19th Century

Difficulties The monopoly of the Ottoman British US’s aggression Foreign Aggression
Turks, Arab Muslims and colonisation
Italian merchants on the trade
between Europe and Asia

Solutions Voyages of Discovery Revolution: Reform: - Reforms: Self-Strengthening

The American - Meiji Reform Movement, Hundred Days’
Revolution Reform, Late-Qing Reform
- Revolution: 1911 Revolution

Transformation Suppressed in economic Colony→ an Suppressed by Suppressed by foreign expansion

sector→ a world independent foreign expansion → laid a good foundation of a
power(Colonialism from early state → a → a world power world power
16th to late 18th century) world power
2. Transformation
of Europe: Voyages
of Discovery
2.1 Background of the voyages 2.2 Causes of the voyages of
of discovery discovery

2.3 Major Achievements of the 2.4 Influences of the voyages of

voyages of discovery discovery
2.1 Background : the monopoly of the Ottoman Turks, Arab Muslims and
Italian merchants on the trade between Europe and Asia
- However, Europeans could only buy Asian
- During late Medieval Times, goods
goods indirectly.
from Asia such as silk, porcelain,
● Land trade routes: From the 14th century, the
tea and spices were in great
Ottoman Turks and Arab Muslims controlled
demand in Europe.
the land trade routes between Europe and
Asia. They levied very high trade taxes.
● Sea trade routes: Italians merchants
monopolized trade in the Mediterranean region
Read the
cartoons and
find out the
causes of the
voyages of
discovery in
the 15th
Century.
2.2 Causes of the Voyages of Discovery

- show off national power

a. Political & economic aspect

: to search for new land, trade c. Cultural aspect:
routes and wealth influence of Renaissance

b. Religious aspect: to d. Technological aspect:

spread Christianity improvement in shipbuilding and
navigation
a. Political & economic aspect : to search for new
land, trade routes and wealth
- They were willing to sponsor
- Strong kings arose in Europe in
explorations.
the 15th century.

- Politically, they wanted to find

new lands and valuable things
like gold and other metals.
- Economically, they hoped to find
new trade routes to the East for
trade.
Europe, Asia and Africa in 1480
b. Religious aspect: to spread Christianity
- It supported naval explorations
- During Medieval Times, and often sent missionaries to join
Christianity had been spread these explorations.
throughout Europe.

- The Church therefore wanted

to spread Christianity
worldwide.

A missionary in India
c. Cultural aspect: influence of the Renaissance
- In the 14th century, the
Renaissance started in Europe
which led to the rise of humanism.
To start the Voyages of
Discovery
- Influenced by humanism, Europeans
wanted to extend their capacity and know
more about unknown places and unknown
people.
- Some also wanted to verify some new
ideas, e.g. if the Earth was round.
d. Technological aspect: improvements in shipbuilding and navigation
- Before the Voyages of Discovery, - They also learnt from the Arabs
Europeans learnt how to build how to use the astrolabe and
larger seafaring ships. compass and draw more accurate
maps.

- The improvements in shipbuilding

and navigation allowed navigators to
make safer journeys and travel
greater distances.
 2.3 Major
achievements of the
Voyages of Discovery
 1. Sailed directly from Western Europe to India

In 1488, Portuguese navigator Diaz sailed from Western

Europe to the Cape of Good Hope, Africa. Between 1497 and
1498, Portuguese navigator da Gama sailed around the Cape
of Good Hope and reached Calicut, India. His journey opened
up a new direct sea route from Western Europe to India.

Diaz 2. Discovered the Americas

In 1492, Italian navigator Columbus led a Spanish

fleet and sailed westwards. He reached
present-day West Indies, which includes the
Bahamas and Cuba. Columbus discovered the
Americas hitherto unknown to Europeans.

3. Completed the first circumnavigation of Earth

In 1519, Portuguese navigator Magellan led a Problems

Spanish fleet and sailed westwards. He reached Disaster
the southern tip of the Americas and sailed to the Pirates
Lack of fresh resources (scurvy)
Pacific. In 1522, his fleet returned to Spain. This Lost their way
Magellan was the first global circumnavigation. Columbus
Called Cape of storm at that time

Major voyages between 1487 and 1522

Watch the video and then answer the questions
in the google form.
2.4 Influence of the
voyages of discovery

a. Increased the geographic
knowledge of Europeans
- led to the discovery of new sea routes
and new lands
- dispelled many misconceptions
about the world held by Europeans
for a long time
E.g the circumnavigation of the Earth
proved that the Earth was round
b. Promoted cultural
exchanges in the world
- Westerners learnt more about the
histories, languages, customs and
cultures of the East.
- Christianity, European science and
medicine spread to other places by
the new sea routes.
- The influence of European civilization
in the Americas, Africa and Asia
expanded continuously.
c. Start of the Atlantic slave
trade

- After the Europeans discovered and

settled in the Americas, they needed a
lot of labour to help develop their
colonies.
- They captured American Indians and
imported African slaves. The Atlantic
slave trade began.
- Between the 16th and 19th centuries,
more than 15 million Africans had
been sold to the Americas as slaves.
 d. Started European expansion (Colonialism)
- To protect and expand their
- European countries accumulated
economic interests, they set up
great wealth from foreign trade
trading footholds and colonies in
and became powerful.
the Americas, Africa and Asia,
mainly in the Americas
d. Started European expansion (Colonialism)
- By the 18th century, Spain and
Portugal controlled Central
America and South America (also
known as Latin America), while
Britain and France had control
over eastern North America. In
Asia and Africa, they mainly built
coastal footholds to trade and
exploit local resources.

- The early colonial expansion

focused mainly on trade and
resources. Territorial expansion
and political control were less
important.
 d. Started European expansion (Colonialism)

Ways of colonial expansion

Trading post
Political expansion: - establishing footholds(coastal bases),
Indirect controls spheres of influence(zones with special rights),
protectorates and colonies
Direct controls

Economic expansion: - exploitation of resources; control over

colonial markets
Social and cultural - spread European religion and culture
expansion:
 d. Started European expansion (Colonialism)
- The Voyages of Discovery
ended the monopoly of the
Ottoman Turks, Arab Muslims
and Italian merchants on the
trade between Europe and
Asia.
- A European-centred world
trading system was formed.
International trade also
tended to satisfy their
interests.
- It led to the rise of Europe.