Analyze the Forces That Drove Imperial Expansion in the Period $\bullet$

question 1

Essay

Analyze the forces that drove imperial expansion in the period from c. 1450 to c. 1750.
In your response you should do the following:
$\bullet$ Respond to the prompt with a historically defensible thesis or claim that establishes a line of reasoning.
$\bullet$ Describe a broader historical context relevant to the prompt.
$\bullet$ Support an argument in response to the prompt using at least six documents.
$\bullet$ Use at least one additional piece of specific historical evidence (beyond that found in the documents) relevant to an argument about the prompt.
$\bullet$ For at least three documents, explain how or why the document's point of view, purpose, historical situation, and/or audience is relevant to an argument.
$\bullet$ Use evidence to corroborate, qualify, or modify an argument that addresses the prompt.
Document 1
Elephant hit by a cannonball during Mughal invasion of Bhojpur in central India,
c. 1540. The image is from the Akbarnama, a history of Akbar's reign by his Grand Vizier, Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak.

Document 2
Turkish miniature painting of the Fall of Constantinople in 1453.

Document 3
Columbus landing on Hispaniola, Dec. 6, 1492, greeted by Arawak Indians. Copper plate engraving by Theodore de Bry, a European engraver who never went to the Americas,
c. 1594.

Document 4
Letter to the Royal Audience of Santo Domingo, written by Hernando, the brother of Francisco Pizarro, 1533. This letter describes the first meeting between Atahualpa and the Spanish after the Inca ruler had turned over much of his gold to the Spanish.
"The Dominican friar showed Atahualpa a book which he carried in his hands, and told him that that book contained the things of God. Atahualpa asked for the book, and threw it on the ground, saying: 'I will not leave this place until you have restored all that you have taken in my land. I know well who you are and what you have come for.' Then he rose up in his litter and addressed his men, and there were murmurs among them and calls to those who were armed. The friar went to the Governor [Pizarro] and reported what was being done and that no time was to be lost. The Governor sent to me; and I had arranged with the captain of the artillery that, when a sign was given, he should discharge his pieces [guns], and that, on hearing the reports [explosive sounds], all the troops should come forth at once. This was done, and as the Indians were unarmed they were defeated without danger to any Christian."
Document 5
Hernán Cortés, speaking to his men who threatened to mutiny after being driven out of Tenochtitlán in 1519. Reported by George Cubitt in Cortes: or, The Discovery and Conquest of Mexico, London, 1848.
"As for me," Cortés concluded, "I have chosen my part, and will abide by it. If any shrink back, let them return. There is one vessel: it will carry them to Cuba. They can tell them there that they deserted their commander and comrades, and perhaps left them to perish. Or they may ingloriously wait till we return loaded with the spoils of the Aztecs."
Document 6
Jacques Cartier, "Letter to the King of France," describing meeting an Amerindian community in North America, 1535-1536
"This chief was completely paralyzed. When he had saluted the Captain and all his men, by making signs which clearly meant that they were very welcome, he showed his arms and his legs to the Captain motioning to him to be good enough to touch them, as if he thereby expected to be cured and healed. On this the Captain set about rubbing his arms and legs with his hands. Thereupon this Agouhanna took the band of cloth he was wearing as a crown and presented it to the Captain. Then the Captain took a prayer-book and read out the Passion of our Lord. After this the Captain had all the men range themselves on one side, the women on another, and the children on another, and to the headmen he gave hatchets, to the others, knives, and to the women, beads and other small trinkets. The Captain next ordered the trumpets and other musical instruments to be sounded, whereat the people were much delighted. We then took leave of them and proceeded to set out upon our return."
Document 7
Olaudah Equiano, describing his capture as a child and sale to European slavers
c. 1750, in The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, published in 1789.
"The first object which saluted my eyes when I arrived on the coast was the sea, and a slave ship, which was then riding at anchor, and waiting for its cargo. These filled me with astonishment, which was soon converted into terror when I was carried on board. I no longer doubted of my fate; and, quite overpowered with horror and anguish, I fell motionless on the deck and fainted. When I recovered a little I found some black people about me, who I believed were some of those who brought me on board, and had been receiving their pay; they talked to me in order to cheer me, but all in vain. I asked them if we were not to be eaten by those white men with horrible looks, red faces, and loose hair. They told me I was not.
In a little time after, amongst the poor chained men, I found some of my own nation, which in a small degree gave ease to my mind. I inquired of these what was to be done with us; they gave me to understand we were to be carried to these white people's country to work for them. I then was a little revived, and thought, if it were no worse than working, my situation was not so desperate: but still I feared I should be put to death; for I had never seen among any people such instances of brutal cruelty; and this not only shewn towards us blacks, but also to some of the whites themselves."

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Definitions:

Born

The process of coming into life or beginning existence.

Mate Assistance Hypothesis

A theory proposing that monogamy can evolve when males gain more reproductive success by providing care and protection to their mate and offspring than by seeking additional mates.

Mate Limitation Hypothesis

A theory suggesting that the availability of potential reproductive partners limits the reproductive success of individuals, particularly in populations with skewed sex ratios.

Monogamy

The practice of maintaining a sexually exclusive relationship with one partner over a period of time.