Chapter 2: The Expansion of Trade

1. Chapter 2: The Expansion of Trade

2. What new products have been introduced into our society as a result of global trade? • How has global trade changed Canadian identity and worldview? • Read chapter opener: p. 39 • In what ways do you think the Polo’s worldview might have been different from the worldview of most people of the Middle Ages? • The Polo’s were interested in traveling and learning about distant places. They were not content to stay within the boundaries of their known world.

3. Why do you think Marco Polo’s writings about his travels became so popular? • Europeans had little knowledge of but great interest in the wider world • Europeans were intrigued as they learned about people in other parts of the world • Exploration and geographic discovery went hand in hand with the spirit of scientific discovery that characterized Renaissance European life • What does this show about people’s attitudes toward the world beyond Europe? • The popularity of his books how that people where becoming more interested in the unknown. They were starting to wonder about the world beyond their own region.

4. Section 1: The Rise of International Trade • What factors contributed to the rise of trade between Western Europe and the East at the beginning of the Renaissance? • Read pages 40-43 • Spice Trader Game

5. Section 2: The Italian City States • How did increased trade lead to the emergence of powerful city-states in Italy?

6. Read top of page 47 together. • flip to the back cover of the text and take a look at modern day Europe and think about some of the differences from Renaissance Europe. • write the following definitions • City-state: a politically independent city and the rural area (or hinterland) around it. • Hinterland: rural area around a city state. • Examine the map on page 48. • what geographic features (rivers, mountains, bays other bodies of water) might have contributed to the development of various city-states throughout Europe.(5 min) • -rivers give access to the territory upriver where agricultural goods derive • -rivers provide access to the sea fro the export and import of goods • -bays offer protected harbours for ease of loading and unloading ships in port • -anyone moving goods finds mountains easier to go around than through or over; cities will develop on the routes taken by people trying to avoid crossing mountains

7. Homework • Homework assignment for tomorrow: Read “Exploring Sources” on page 47 and answer questions given. • This exercise is a good test at how observant you are to things going on and portrayed in the picture and also tests your ability to understand what is being said in the reading. • Take a lot of time examining picture and you may have to read the excerpt 2 or 3 times. • Answers • How do the painting and quotation illustrate their creators’ pride in their city, Florence? • -Both the artist and merchant show their pride by representing and describing Florence as a prosperous and growing city. • -The painting emphasizes Florence’s beauty, and large impressive buildings dominate the skyline. The merchant uses words such as beautiful, rich and splendid to express his pride. • How does the hinterland support life in Florence? • The “hinterland” – the 30 000 estates surrounding Florence – provided the city with: • -sufficient food for the citizens of the city • -hay to feed the animals in the city • -wool to manufacture products for export • Identify and explain what geographic features make Florence a suitable site for a city. • Florence benefited from the following geographic features: • -it was surrounded by productive agricultural land that supplied Florence both with the food it needed and with the wool it used to produce clothing for export • -by means of the Arno River, it had access to the sea benefiting its trade relationships • -the mountains provided a natural defense in times of war • -Florence’s location on the Arno River provided the city with water and a transportation route

8. Competition for Trade • Read page 49 – 50 • On your own answer the questions 1-3 on page 51 • Making Money with Money (Page 52 and 53 )

9. “Exploring Sources” • Read “Exploring Sources” (Page 53) • What does Chief Maquinna’s quotation reveal about the Nuu-chah-nulth worldview? • -interest on money invested has no or little appeal • -community sufficiency is more important than individual prosperity • -the personal and emotional dimensions of saving and giving are as important as or more important than the economic aspects

10. Read “Zoom In”: The Medici Family as well as Figure 2-17 and answer the second question: • Which factors in the worldviews icon explain the success of the Medici family? • -Society: The wealthy and powerful should stick together (alliances with the Church and with other powerful families). • -Values: Wealth and power are the keys to success. Get rid of your enemies. Support the arts. • -Economy: Control as much economic and political activity as possible. • Read “Fast Forward”: Wealth and Responsibility • Answer question #1 • Students arguing that the wealthy do have this responsibility might suggest these reasons: • because their wealth outstrips their material needs by a wide margin, the wealthy do have greater responsibility we all have a responsibility to give charitably, but the responsibility of the wealthy is increased proportionately simply because they have more • Students arguing that the wealthy do not have this responsibility might argue along theselines: • charity is only charity when it comes from a free heart and an open hand; the • wealthy have no more responsibility to give charitably than any of the rest of us • all of us have an individual choice about whether we give, and how much

11. A New City for TradeAssignment • You must now come up with a brief report to convince him that your idea is a prosperous one. In your presentation be sure to consider the following: • In what ways will increasing trade with other countries benefit Europe and its people? • Which countries are you looking to trade with and why? • In what strategic location of Europe would you choose to build the city? • What physical (geographical) features would you look for? • Why would these features make the city a good centre for the exchange of goods and ideas? • What will you name the city? • Any other important supporting factors or ideas that you would like to share with the monarch. • Your presentation will consist of a • detailed written explanation of your ideas (at least 2 or 3 paragraphs). • a well designed and easy to read map of Europe that clearly indicates the suggested location for the city. Be sure to include relevant physical features and other relevant cities on the map as well.