Tiêu đề Grade 11 History Unit 4 short note.pdf ✅

Prepared by Bisrat Alemu for more notes and questions contact me on telegram @TTbisrat Grade 11 History Unit 4 short note The Middle Ages and Early Modern World The European Middle Ages The European Middle Ages, spanning roughly from 500 AD to 1500 AD, began with the decline of the Western Roman Empire. This era, formerly referred to as the “Dark Age,” was marked by political fragmentation, ruralization, and disruptions to established trade networks. The fall of Rome resulted in the emergence of various Germanic kingdoms across Europe, including those of the Visigoths, Franks, Ostrogoths, and Saxons. Despite its earlier label, the Middle Ages saw significant developments:  The rise of Christianity: The Roman Christian Church provided leadership and structure during this period, assuming many governmental functions after the fall of Rome.  The development of feudalism: This system saw powerful lords dividing their landholdings among lesser lords (vassals) in exchange for loyalty and service.  The revival of trade and the emergence of towns: Around the 11th century, trade began to reemerge, leading to the growth of towns along trade routes. This revival gave rise to a new social class – the middle class, comprising merchants, artisans, and skilled workers. Main Features of the Middle Ages  Feudalism: A decentralized system where land was granted in exchange for loyalty and service. This created a hierarchical society with the king at the top, followed by nobles, knights, and peasants.  Manorialism: The economic system tied to feudalism. Manors were self-sufficient estates where peasants (mostly serfs) worked the land in exchange for protection and a portion of the produce.  The Power of the Church: The Roman Catholic Church held significant political, economic, and social influence during the Middle Ages. It controlled vast lands, levied taxes, and influenced the lives of people through its teachings and doctrines.  The Crusades: A series of religious wars (1096-1270) launched by European Christians to recapture the Holy Land from Muslims. The Crusades, while ultimately failing to achieve their main goal, had significant impacts on European society, stimulating trade, the growth of cities, and cultural exchange. The Middle Ages in Asia This period witnessed the rise and expansion of Islam, the flourishing of the Islamic Golden Age, and the dynastic cycles in China. Key developments include:  The Rise of Islam: Originating in Arabia in the 7th century, Islam, under the leadership of Prophet Muhammad and the subsequent caliphs, spread rapidly across the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Europe and Asia.  The Islamic Golden Age: A period of great intellectual and cultural flourishing within the Islamic world. Muslim scholars made significant advances in mathematics, astronomy, medicine, philosophy, and architecture.
Prepared by Bisrat Alemu for more notes and questions contact me on telegram @TTbisrat  Chinese Dynasties: The Tang and Song dynasties marked a period of prosperity, cultural achievements, and technological innovations in China. The Mongols, under Kublai Khan, established the Yuan dynasty, which facilitated trade and cultural exchange across Eurasia. Development of Early Capitalism: 1500-1789 This era saw a gradual shift from feudalism and manorialism towards early capitalism in Europe. Important factors include:  Growth of Towns and Trade: The revival of trade and the expansion of towns in the late Middle Ages created new economic opportunities and fostered the growth of a merchant class. This led to the accumulation of capital and the development of early financial institutions.  The Age of Exploration: Driven by the desire for new trade routes, wealth, and knowledge, European nations embarked on voyages of exploration, discovering new lands and establishing colonies. This expanded global trade networks and fueled the Commercial Revolution. The Age of Exploration and Inception of Globalization The Age of Exploration, from the 15th to the early 17th centuries, was a transformative period driven by European exploration of the world's oceans. Key points:  Motivations: The desire to find new trade routes to the East, bypassing Ottoman control, coupled with the search for wealth, new lands, and Christian converts fueled European exploration.  Technological Advancements: The development of new navigational tools like the compass, astrolabe, and quadrant, coupled with advancements in shipbuilding, enabled long-distance sea voyages.  Key Explorers: Portuguese explorers, including those supported by Prince Henry the Navigator, led the way, reaching the southern tip of Africa and establishing trade routes to India. Spanish explorers, most notably Christopher Columbus, "discovered" the Americas, opening the way for colonization.  Impacts: The Age of Exploration resulted in the "Columbian Exchange," a transfer of plants, animals, and diseases between the Old and New Worlds, which had significant global consequences. The explorations also expanded geographical knowledge, fueled the growth of European empires, and contributed to the rise of global trade networks. The Renaissance The Renaissance, a period of “rebirth” of classical culture, began in Italy in the 14th century and spread across Europe. Key characteristics:  Humanism: A focus on human potential and achievement, shifting emphasis from solely religious themes to celebrate human reason, art, and literature.
Prepared by Bisrat Alemu for more notes and questions contact me on telegram @TTbisrat  Artistic and Intellectual Flourishing: The Renaissance witnessed a surge in artistic, literary, and scientific achievements. Artists like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael created masterpieces, while scholars like Petrarch revived classical learning.  Scientific Advancements: Scientists like Nicholas Copernicus and Galileo Galilei challenged long-held beliefs, proposing heliocentric models of the universe and making groundbreaking observations.  The Printing Press: Johannes Gutenberg's invention of the printing press revolutionized the spread of knowledge and ideas, facilitating the dissemination of Renaissance thought. The Reformation A religious movement in 16th century Europe that led to a split in Christianity and the establishment of Protestant churches. Key figures and events:  Martin Luther: A German monk who challenged the authority of the Catholic Church, sparking the Reformation by posting his 95 Theses in 1517.  Key Protestant Beliefs: Protestants emphasized the Bible as the sole source of religious authority, rejected the Pope's authority, and believed in salvation through faith alone.  Spread of Protestantism: The Reformation quickly spread across Europe, with different Protestant denominations emerging, including Lutheranism, Calvinism, and Anglicanism.  The Counter-Reformation: The Catholic Church's response to the Reformation, aimed at reforming internal practices and countering the spread of Protestantism. The Council of Trent (1545-1563) was a key event, reaffirming Catholic doctrines and launching initiatives to revitalize the Church. The Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment The Scientific Revolution, followed by the Enlightenment, transformed European thought and laid the groundwork for modern science and political philosophy. The Scientific Revolution (1500-1700):  A New Way of Thinking: Emphasized reason, observation, and experimentation to understand the natural world, challenging traditional explanations based on religious dogma or ancient authorities.  Key Discoveries: Copernicus's heliocentric theory, Galileo's astronomical observations, and Newton's laws of motion revolutionized astronomy and physics.  Advances in Other Fields: The scientific method was applied to fields like medicine (Vesalius's anatomical studies) and chemistry (Boyle's work on gases), leading to significant breakthroughs. The Enlightenment (18th Century):  The Age of Reason: Emphasized reason, individual liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as core values. Thinkers applied reason to political, social, and economic issues.  Key Philosophers: John Locke (natural rights), Montesquieu (separation of powers), Voltaire (freedom of speech and religion), Rousseau (social contract), and Beccaria (abolition of torture) are some of the prominent figures of the Enlightenment.