AMSCO 4.1 Technological Innovations Notes

1 min read•june 18, 2024

📖 AMSCO p.191 - p.198

Image Courtesy of Tien

Important Innovations

Magnetic Compass
- Origin: 12th century China, adopted in Europe
- Description: Uses Earth's magnetic field for direction
- Impact: Improved sea navigation, enabled global trade
Astrolabe
- Origin: Ancient Greece, refined by Islamic scholars
- Description: Measures star angles for navigation
- Impact: Enhanced accuracy at sea, expanded trade.
Caravel Ships
- Origin: Europe.
- Description: Smaller, maneuverable sailing ships.
- Impact: Better navigation, supported long-distance trade
Printed Maps and Atlases
- Origin: Printing press invention.
- Description: Mass-produced cartographic knowledge.
- Impact: Wider map access, shared trade, and exploration info.

State Interactions and Their Impact on Different Cultures

Colonial Empires
- Origin: European expansion and exploration.
- Description: European powers established colonies in the Americas, Asia, and Africa.
- Impact: Indigenous cultures influenced, trade networks expanded, new crops introduced.
Gunpowder Empires
- Origin: Advances in gunpowder technology, especially in the Ottoman Empire.
- Description: Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal Empires used gunpowder-based weapons.
- Impact: Military innovations, cultural exchange, and political changes.
Maritime Empires
- Origin: The Age of Exploration and economic motives.
- Description: European naval powers established maritime empires to control trade routes.
- Impact: Indigenous culture affected, global trade networks grew, navigation and exploration innovations diffused.
Diplomatic Missions
- Origin: Chinese Ming Dynasty's policies.
- Description: Diplomatic missions like Zheng He's voyages to establish trade and diplomacy.
- Impact: Peaceful cultural exchange, foreign technology and art introduced, influenced regional cultures and trade.
Mercantilist Policies
- Origin: European governments during the Age of Exploration.
- Description: Policies aimed at accumulating wealth through trade and colonial expansion.
- Impact: Cultural interactions through trade monopolies, altered indigenous economies.

Economic Motivations

Term	Definition + Significance
Magnetic Compass	A navigational tool that uses the Earth's magnetic field to determine direction, aiding sailors in sea navigation by providing a reliable reference point.
Astrolabe	An ancient instrument used for celestial navigation and measuring the altitude of celestial bodies, helping sailors determine their location at sea.
Caravel Ships	A type of highly maneuverable sailing ship developed during the Age of Discovery, featuring advanced sailing technology that facilitated long-distance exploration and trade.
Colonial Empires	Empires established by imperial powers through the expansion of trade routes, involving the colonization and control of underdeveloped nations to exploit resources and establish dominance
Gunpowder Empires	Empires, such as the Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal, that rose to power through the mastery and extensive use of gunpowder-based weapons, transforming military strategies and political landscape.
Maritime Empires	Empires that achieved dominance through control of strategic maritime routes and ports, often relying on powerful navies to protect and expand their economic interests through maritime trade.
Mercantilist Policies	European economic policies for wealth accumulation through trade and colonial expansion, resulting in cultural interactions through trade monopolies and impacting indigenous economies.