Changing SOCIAL HIERARCHIES, 1450-1750 [AP World History Review—Unit 4 Topic 7]

Summary

This video explores how social hierarchies evolved globally between 1450 and 1750, focusing on responses to ethnic diversity and changing power structures. It covers the expulsion of Jews from Spain and Portugal, the relative tolerance of the Ottoman Empire, the ethnic divides in the Qing dynasty, and Akbar the Great's tolerance in the Mughal Empire. The video also discusses the rise of new elites in Spanish America through the caste system and the decline of aristocratic powers like the Russian Boyars and Ottoman Timars, all presented with a lively and engaging tone.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The period from 1450 to 1750 saw significant changes in social hierarchies around the world.
• 🇪🇸 Spain and Portugal expelled Jews after the Reconquista to strengthen Christian dominance, while the Ottoman Empire welcomed displaced Jews with relative tolerance.
• 🕍 Although the Ottoman Empire tolerated Jews, they still faced restrictions, such as paying a non-Muslim tax and living in designated areas.
• 🇨🇳 The Qing Dynasty imposed a sharp ethnic division between the ruling Manchu and the Han people, with Han men forced to wear specific hairstyles as a sign of subjugation.
• 🤝 In the Mughal Empire, Akbar the Great fostered profound tolerance toward ethnic and religious minorities, including lifting certain taxes and funding religious buildings.
• 🚢 The rise of European maritime empires and global trade led to the emergence of new political elites, particularly in colonial regions like Spanish America.
• 🇪🇸 In the Americas, Spain implemented the casta system, a social hierarchy based on race, which organized people into ranked groups, erasing much of the cultural diversity of the native populations.
• 🏰 In Russia, Peter the Great curbed the power of the Boyar aristocracy, consolidating power under himself and requiring service to the state for employment in bureaucracy.
• 🏞️ The Ottoman timars, or land grants to the aristocracy, were slowly converted into tax farms by the state, reducing the power and wealth of the elite class.
• 📚 The script ends with a call to review more content or grab an AP World review guide to succeed in class and exams.

Q & A

What were some of the different responses to ethnic diversity between 1450 and 1750?

Responses to ethnic diversity varied widely. In Spain and Portugal, Jews were expelled, while the Ottoman Empire offered refuge to displaced Jews. The Qing Dynasty established a sharp division between the ruling Manchu and the Han people, while the Mughal Empire, under Akbar the Great, promoted tolerance of ethnic and religious minorities.

How were Jews treated in Spain and Portugal during this period?

In Spain, Jews were expelled in 1492 after the Reconquista. The Spanish crown feared that Jews who had converted to Christianity might influence others to renounce the faith. Many Jews fled to Portugal, only to face further expulsion due to a marriage alliance with Spain.

How did the Ottoman Empire respond to the Jewish expulsion from Spain and Portugal?

The Ottoman Empire, under Sultan Mehmed II, welcomed displaced Jews, allowing them to settle in the empire. Although Jews did not enjoy full equality and had to pay a special tax, they were relatively tolerated, and some even rose to prominence in the Ottoman court and contributed to the economy and culture.

What was the Qing Dynasty's approach to managing ethnic diversity?

The Qing Dynasty, ruled by the Manchu people, maintained a sharp division between the Manchu and Han populations. While they adopted some Chinese cultural practices, the Manchu reserved the highest bureaucratic positions for themselves and imposed cultural symbols, such as the mandatory hairstyle for Han men, as a reminder of their dominance.

How did Akbar the Great's Mughal Empire handle ethnic and religious diversity?

Akbar the Great's Mughal Empire promoted tolerance of ethnic and religious diversity. He abolished the jizya tax on non-Muslims, funded the construction of religious buildings for different faiths, and fostered a more inclusive environment. However, the jizya tax was later reintroduced after his reign.

What was the Spanish caste system in the Americas, and how did it impact social hierarchies?

The Spanish caste system in the Americas was a racial and hereditary social hierarchy imposed by conquistadors. It ranked people based on their birthplace and ethnicity, with Peninsulares (born in Spain) at the top, followed by Creoles (born in the New World of European descent), Mestizos (European and Indigenous ancestry), Mulattos (European and African ancestry), and at the bottom, enslaved Africans and Indigenous peoples.

What role did the Reconquista play in shaping Spain's approach to ethnic diversity?

The Reconquista, completed in 1492, aimed to restore Christian rule in Spain by expelling Muslim rulers. After defeating the Muslims, the Spanish Crown also sought to eliminate other potential threats to Christian domination, leading to the expulsion of Jews from the kingdom.

What changes did Peter the Great introduce to Russian social hierarchies?

Peter the Great reduced the power of the Boyars, Russia's aristocratic landowning class, by consolidating power under himself. He abolished the rank of Boyar and required bureaucrats to serve the state directly, weakening the traditional aristocracy.

How did the Ottoman Empire's Timar system change in the 16th century?

The Timar system, which granted land to aristocrats in exchange for military service, began to decline in the 16th century. Ottoman Sultans started converting Timars into tax farms, redirecting revenue to the state, thereby diminishing the power and wealth of the aristocracy.

What was the significance of global trade in altering social hierarchies during this period?

Global trade and imperial expansion led to the rise of new political elites, particularly in maritime empires like Spain. For example, in the Americas, conquistadors established a new social order through the caste system, creating a racial hierarchy that differed from traditional European noble structures.