04-23-2004, 10:17 AM
(This post was last modified: 04-23-2004, 11:28 AM by [wcip]Angel.)
.. or rather, lack thereof.
Hello all.
This year I'm doing a history course at my local university college, and one of the essays I've been assigned is about the European expansion between 1400-1600. I'm trying to find out why Europeans took to the seas in the beginning of the 1400s and discuss the the consequences of these historical events. In order to fully explain the reasons for the European expansion, I've touched on economy and technology so far, but having said that neither alone can fully explain this phenomenon. I imagine I will need to touch on religion sooner or later. But that's irrelevant.
My professor told me that it would be a good idea to explain why European countries expanded while others didn't. Obviously, everyone didn't have the necessary technology or know-how, but among those who did, the Chinese still stayed at home. I'm asking you "Why did the Chinese adopt more of an isolationist policy while Europe expanded in every direction?"
If you have any thoughts on the matter, or if you have any other comments related to my essay, I'd very much appreciate your input.
Best regards
- [winzip]Angel
edit: I have a problem. At one point in my essay I say that one of the reasons for the expansion is that the European countries needed trade routes west after the fall of the Mongolian Empire which had, up until that point, kept the road to Asia open.
Another place in my essay I say that one of the reasons China didn't take to the seas in the middle of the 15th century is because they were ravaged by the Mongols in the north and needed to divert their attention to that particular problem.
Aren't these two statements antitthetical? If the Mongolian empire is dead and buried, how can they be attacking the Chinese?
Hello all.
This year I'm doing a history course at my local university college, and one of the essays I've been assigned is about the European expansion between 1400-1600. I'm trying to find out why Europeans took to the seas in the beginning of the 1400s and discuss the the consequences of these historical events. In order to fully explain the reasons for the European expansion, I've touched on economy and technology so far, but having said that neither alone can fully explain this phenomenon. I imagine I will need to touch on religion sooner or later. But that's irrelevant.
My professor told me that it would be a good idea to explain why European countries expanded while others didn't. Obviously, everyone didn't have the necessary technology or know-how, but among those who did, the Chinese still stayed at home. I'm asking you "Why did the Chinese adopt more of an isolationist policy while Europe expanded in every direction?"
If you have any thoughts on the matter, or if you have any other comments related to my essay, I'd very much appreciate your input.
Best regards
- [winzip]Angel
edit: I have a problem. At one point in my essay I say that one of the reasons for the expansion is that the European countries needed trade routes west after the fall of the Mongolian Empire which had, up until that point, kept the road to Asia open.
Another place in my essay I say that one of the reasons China didn't take to the seas in the middle of the 15th century is because they were ravaged by the Mongols in the north and needed to divert their attention to that particular problem.
Aren't these two statements antitthetical? If the Mongolian empire is dead and buried, how can they be attacking the Chinese?
