HIST 1112 Lecture 2: Unit 1
Document Summary
A tale of two empires - the spanish and the ottomans in a post-mongol era. They fought over the space of the old roman empire in the mediterranean. They reached their peaks in the 16th and 17th centuries. Global perspective - the ottomans wanted the indian ocean and the mediterranean and the spanish wanted the americas and the philippines. Successful empires in the 15th and 16th century. Had a common language (spanish, persian, chinese) Had an official religion, but tolerated others with exception of spain. Had bureaucracy and taxation (often used to fund armies) Had proper road systems and ports for armies and trade. Had a large capital, elaborate court, and show of art and architecture to show wealth. They controlled much of the trade between europe and asia. They had the silk roads and sea routes through the mediterranean, black sea, red sea, and the persian gulf. In 1453 they conquered constantinople (istanbul), the remains of the roman empire.
