Chapter 13

Daniel Guerrero
Professor Patricia Andrews, MA
01/10/19
Chapter 13

The European empires were unique because they involved expansion. Europe made it possible to

expand because they had short trips across the Atlantic ocean and were close to the Americas.

Almost all social groups wanted to expand, both the poor and the elite wanted to gain land and

wealth, merchants wanted markets, the church wanted to spread the faith, the knights wanted glory

and more gold. But with this expansion the Europeans also found contact with the Aztecs and the

Incas, which lead to rivalries. What the Europeans did not know that they brought diseases like small

pox or the epidemic disease killing thousands of people. Not just themselves, but in their animals,

plants and the rats that were brought upon the boat. The most famous European food source brought

to the Americas were corn. maze, and potatoes. The European men sought rape and sexual abuse

with Native American and African women were commonly known. The indigenous men heard this

and try to preserve their own blond, no mixes. Strayer focuses on Europeans in American and what

they started. Now there was another Empire in the come up, which was Russia. The expansion of

Russia was for security, justification and motivation for society. The expansion in Siberia was

mainly for economic reasons. The Russian use gun powder to make their statement known and show

intimidation. Russia also brought their culture, language and orthodox church taught the Indians.

Russia was built with wealth because of many different groups, religions and products sold by

differently ethnicities.  Another Empire was being built, Asia. Their expansion of their empire was

built for security purposes, not economic ones. Mughal Empire was also being built. Only 20%  of

the population was Muslim. Akbar, a famous emperor made a lot of tolerant policies. But after he

died many other emperors changed the system but not a drastic change that the empire would fall. I

found the reading to fascinating because there was so many empires evolving to have power or

security.