Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for History

Tell a Painter's Name

Famous Painters

• Pablo Picasso (1881–1973)
• Vincent van Gogh

Art Movement

• The Impressionists

The Atlantic Slave Trade

Between 9–11 million Africans were taken by European slave traders and landed alive in North America. Between 1698 and 1807 the slave trade was open to anyone who wanted to take part. Before that, it was restricted to the Royal African Company. The first African slaves arrived in Jamestown in 1618. They were sold and forced to work on plantations (sugar, cotton, tobacco) in America. Slavery was hereditary.

Slave Auctions

“The Weeping Time”, March 1859, was the largest slave auction in history. 436 men, women, and children were sold. They stayed in stalls meant for horses at a racetrack in Savannah, Georgia... Continue reading "A History of Imperialism and Slavery" »

Definition of Imperialism

Imperialism is when a nation extends its control over another country's government and economy. The conquering country is the mother country, and the acquired territories are the colonies.

During the Early Modern Period, Britain, Spain, and Portugal were already colonial powers.

"New Imperialism" began in the mid-19th century, led by Britain and France. The USA, Germany, Italy, Russia, and Japan joined later.

Factors of Imperialism

• Economic: Industrialization increased the demand for natural resources and places to trade manufactured goods (capitalism).
• Religious: Converting native people to Christianity was used as a justification for imperialism.
• Political:
  1. Nationalism: The prestige of possessing colonies increased nationalist

How Were the Colonies Impacted by Salutary Neglect?

What Factors Led to the Unification of the Colonies?

Alexander the Great: A King of Macedon

Alexander III of Macedon (356 BC-323 BC), commonly known as Alexander the Great, was a king of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon and a member of the Argead dynasty. Born in Pella in 356 BC, Alexander succeeded his father, Philip II, to the throne at the age of twenty.

Early Life and Education

During his early years, he had the pleasure of having Aristotle as his tutor, though it can be argued that the philosopher's influence on him was limited.

Conquest of Asia Minor

Alexander succeeded in conquering Asia Minor after crossing the Hellespont in 334 BC with 40,000 men, composed of Macedonians and Greeks. His initial goal was to liberate the Greek cities in Asia Minor.

Expansion into Persia and Egypt

He went... Continue reading "Alexander the Great: Life, Conquests, and Legacy" »

Soviet Economic Transformation (1928–1941)

The Planned Economy and Five-Year Plans

In 1928, the first Five-Year Plan was introduced, establishing the USSR's economic goals. Key objectives included industrial development, and achieving agricultural and military self-sufficiency. All economic activity came under state control.

Collective Farming

Collectivization established land collectives, requiring landowners to give up individual ownership. The Kulaks (wealthy peasants) resisted these changes and faced brutal repression. Production often failed to meet planned targets, leading to widespread scarcity and famine.

Two main types of collectives existed:

• Kolkhozes: Large collective farms.
• Sovkhozes: State-owned farms where workers were paid a salary.

Consequences of World War I

Human and Demographic Impact

• Casualties: Approximately 10 million deaths and 20 million wounded.
• Psychological Trauma: Many soldiers suffered from "shell shock."
• Infrastructure: Widespread destruction of towns, crop fields, and mines.

Economic Consequences

• Financial Burden: The war was extremely expensive, leading to massive European debt, largely owed to the United States.

The Paris Peace Conference

The conference resulted in a series of treaties signed by the defeated nations, most notably the Treaty of Versailles with Germany. Decisions were primarily driven by the United States, France, Britain, and Italy, who forced the defeated powers to accept their conditions.

Objectives and Terms

• Primary Goal: Prevent the resurgence

Qin Wangzheng was born in 259 BC, and it was the last year of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. The Spring and Autumn Warring States began in 770 BC when Ping Wang moved to Luojing, ending in 221 BC before Qin Wang won the political unification of China, which lasted nearly 500 years.

The Qin dynasty is from 221 B.C to 206 B.C, the first emperor is Qin Shi Huang. The dynasty was short-lived. Qin Shihuang’s unification of China has done a lot of unprecedented achievements. There are few things which contribute to the future dynasty. First is he unify the text, making it the foundation of a nation and extending it to this day. Second the country was abolished, and the county was established. It became the standard model for post-unification management... Continue reading "Qin Dynasty: Unification of China and Legacy" »

1. The Russian Revolution

1.1. Causes of the Revolution

At the beginning of the 20th century, Russia was a vast empire ruled by the Tsar of the Romanov dynasty. Social discontent was brewing among the middle and working classes due to the autocratic government, where the Tsar held absolute power. The stark economic disparity between the wealthy minority and the rest of the population further fueled tensions, culminating in the Revolution of 1905. This forced the Tsar to accept a parliament (Duma) and implement various reforms. However, the autocratic system persisted.

1.2. The Revolutions of 1917

The revolutions of 1917 were triggered by two main factors: the immense casualties suffered during World War I and the ongoing social and economic inequalities.... Continue reading "The Russian Revolution: From Tsarist Rule to Soviet Power" »

The Scramble for Africa: Impacts and Legacies

African Responses to Colonialism

During the Scramble for Africa, African people responded to the arrival of newcomers in various ways:

• Violent Opposition: Some African peoples actively resisted and fought against the colonizers. Examples: Zulu and Ashanti tribes.
• Passive Opposition: Nonviolent protests formed a significant part of the resistance movement. Example: Gandhi led hunger strikes, and other methods included fasting, marching, and protesting.
• Cooperation: Some nations or tribes chose to cooperate, allowing them to maintain some traditional ways of life as long as they adhered to English policies and rules. (However, tribes that cooperated often experienced cultural loss.)

Rwandan Genocide: A

The Inevitable Clash: Seeds of the Glorious Revolution

Taking the risk to go against the king until they know there are possibilities of winning. Putting all of this together, the number of supporters of William of Orange seems to be twice as big as the one of James' supporters (line 28). Moreover, the Immortal Seven dare to say that the current King's army is internally divided, many soldiers being only there for survival, but discontent with the actions of the king as well. This way, in case of a war, the troops of William would also have the support of a part of James' army, a "great number of deserters" would join (line 35).

Religious Tensions and the "Popish" Aversion

The text speaks of an "aversion to the popish religion" (line 34) referring... Continue reading "The Glorious Revolution: William of Orange vs. James II" »