Europe in 1500
Europe is considered a geographical region that consists of many different countries and empires. Pay close attention to the location of the following states and empires:
- France
- England
- The Papal States
- The Holy Roman Empire
- The Ottoman Empire
- The Italian Peninsula and the city-state of Venice
Russian Empire
The Russian empire is located in both Europe and Asia.
The Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman empire spans three continents:
In 1450, the Ottoman Turks conquered the important trading city of Constantinople and renamed the capital, Istanbul. They used Islam to unify their empire.
- North Africa
- The Middle East (Asia)
- Southeast Europe (The Balkan Peninsula)
In 1450, the Ottoman Turks conquered the important trading city of Constantinople and renamed the capital, Istanbul. They used Islam to unify their empire.
The Persian Empire
Ancient Persia is located in modern-day Iran and was bounded by the Tigris and Euphrates river. The Persians went on to conquer Anatolia on the coast of Asia Minor. Anatolia gave the Persians access to seaports and therefore to trade.
The Mughal Empire
The Songhai Empire
The Songhai Empire is located in Northwestern Africa. They grew rich off the Trans-Saharn desert, which carried items such as salt, gold, and ivory. The Songhai Empire was heavily influenced by Islam which also travelled along the Trans-Saharan desert.
China
China is located in East Asia and was ruled by many different dynasties (ruling families) over several centuries. The emperors grew rich off the Silk Road, which traded items such as silk, paper, and porcelain. In addition to trade items, new technologies such as the compass also made their way to Europe using the Silk Road.
Japan
Japan is an island in the Pacific Ocean and remained isolated from other empires for many centuries.
Empires in the Western Hemisphere
In ancient history, the peoples of the Americas remained isolated from the civilizations of Eurasia, the Middle East, Europe and Africa. In Central America, two major empires grew. The Aztecs occupied the area of modern-day Mexico city, while the Mayan empire flourished in the jungles of Guatemala, then moved northward to the Yucatan Peninsula. In South America, the Inca empire occupied modern-day Peru.