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Ap World History Dbq Essay

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During the Post-Classical Era, the sacking of Baghdad in 1258 by the Mongols and the fall of Constantinople in 1453 by the Ottoman Turks greatly impacted and shaped the economy and political moves of Europeans, the Mongols provided important trade connections between Europe and Asia where, not only the trade of goods flourished but, also knowledge and technology, however as Mongol power declined and the Turks, who the Europeans saw as a threat, finally conquered the weakened Constantinople, they also cut off Europe’s overland trade route to Asia and the Middle East, prompting the expansion of Europe’s maritime trade routes and encouraging exploration.
When Baghdad was overrun by the Mongols, it connected civilizations from Europe to Eastern Asia, all under Mongol rule. The Mongols actively promoted the growth of trade and travelers by protecting the caravans that made their way across the ancient Asian silk routes and by establishing rest stations along the way. This cracked open a never before seen world and exposed the Europeans to new ideas, technology, goods and a growing hunger amongst the elite for such luxury goods as silk and porcelain produce in China or exotic spices from India. …show more content…

Furthermore the Europeans saw the Ottoman Empire as a threat and feared a new Muslim surge toward Europe. Additionally, the loss of the last European outposts in the Holy Land also eliminated the only European trading posts in the Eastern Mediterranean. All European trade with Asia had to then pass through Muslim merchants, who made it very expensive, only adding to European’s enmity to the new owners of what was renamed Istanbul. All of this impelled Europeans to go exploring new ways to get to China and India to resume the sought after trade for luxury

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