Topics for Midterm exam 2024

1. The Ages of Discoveries and Exploration

- Motives;
- Main discoveries (4),
- Columbian exchange
2. Europe and America in the age of revolutions:
The causes, consequences, and impacts of three major revolutions
- British civil war
- American war for independence
- French revolution
3. Industrial revolutio/indusrtrialization
- The reasons why the first industrial revolution began in Great Britain;
- Main achievements of the First and Second Industrial revolutions;
- Positive and negative impacts of the industrial revolution.
4. World War I:
- Long –term and short term causes of WWI;
- Impacts on VN

Note: This is a closed book exam. Access to internet and other sources are NOT allowed!
1. The Ages of Discoveries and Exploration
Motives
 Economic:
o European merchants wanted direct access to lucrative trade in spices, silk,
and other goods from Asia, bypassing expensive middlemen in the Middle
East.
o The discovery of gold and silver was seen as a way to enrich monarchies
and fuel economic growth.
 Religious:
o Catholic nations, particularly Spain and Portugal, aimed to spread
Christianity to "pagan" lands, with missionaries playing a key role in
colonial ventures.
 Political:
o Monarchies, especially Spain and Portugal, sought to expand their empires
and compete with one another for dominance.
o Exploration was also driven by the ambition to claim strategic territories for
trade and naval power.
 Technological:
o Innovations such as the astrolabe, compass, and improved maps made long
voyages feasible.
o The development of caravels (fast, maneuverable ships) allowed for
oceanic exploration.
Main Discoveries (4):
1. Christopher Columbus (1492):
o His voyage, funded by Spain, aimed to find a westward route to Asia but
instead led to the discovery of the Americas.
2. Vasco da Gama (1498):
o Opened the sea route from Europe to India by sailing around Africa’s Cape
of Good Hope, boosting Portugal's dominance in spice trade.
3. Ferdinand Magellan (1519–1522):
o Led the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe, proving the Earth's
roundness and the vastness of the Pacific Ocean.
4. Hernán Cortés (1519–1521):
o Conquered the Aztec Empire in present-day Mexico, bringing vast wealth
and territory under Spanish control.
Columbian Exchange:
 From the Americas to Europe and Africa:
o Crops like potatoes, maize, tomatoes, and cacao revolutionized European
diets.
o Tobacco became a major cash crop in Europe.
 From Europe and Africa to the Americas:
o Livestock (horses, cattle, pigs) transformed indigenous agricultural
practices.
 o Introduction of sugarcane plantations led to the transatlantic slave trade.
 Negative Impacts:
o Spread of diseases like smallpox and measles decimated indigenous
populations in the Americas.
o Displacement and exploitation of native peoples.

2. Europe and America in the Age of Revolutions

British Civil War (1642–1651):
 Causes:
o Disputes over the power of the monarchy and Parliament.
o Religious conflicts between Anglicans, Catholics, and Puritans.
o Charles I’s attempt to rule without Parliament and his imposition of
unpopular taxes.
 Consequences:
o Execution of Charles I in 1649 marked the first instance of regicide in
Europe.
o Brief period of republican rule under Oliver Cromwell (Commonwealth).
 Impacts:
o Strengthened parliamentary democracy in Britain.
o Served as a precedent for future challenges to absolute monarchy.
American War for Independence (1775–1783):
 Causes:
o "No taxation without representation": British imposition of taxes like the
Stamp Act and Tea Act without colonial representation in Parliament.
o Restrictive trade policies under the Navigation Acts.
o Enlightenment ideals of liberty and self-governance.
 Consequences:
o Declaration of Independence (1776) established the United States as a
sovereign nation.
o The Treaty of Paris (1783) formally ended the war, with Britain
recognizing U.S. independence.
 Impacts:
o Inspired other revolutions (e.g., French and Latin American revolutions).
o Creation of a federal democratic system in the U.S.
French Revolution (1789–1799):
 Causes:
o Economic hardship due to debt from wars and royal extravagance.
o Inequities in the Estates system, where the Third Estate (commoners) bore
most taxes.
o Enlightenment ideals emphasizing liberty, equality, and fraternity.
 Consequences:
o Overthrow of the monarchy and establishment of the First French Republic.
o Reign of Terror (1793–1794) under Robespierre.
 o Rise of Napoleon Bonaparte and his eventual dominance of Europe.
 Impacts:
o Spread of revolutionary ideas like nationalism and democracy across
Europe.
o Abolition of feudal systems in many parts of Europe.

3. Industrial Revolution/Industrialization
Reasons for the First Industrial Revolution in Great Britain:
1. Natural Resources: Abundant coal and iron deposits supported energy and
construction needs.
2. Agricultural Revolution: New farming techniques increased productivity, freeing
up labor for factories.
3. Colonial Empire: Access to raw materials and markets fueled industrial growth.
4. Technological Innovation: Inventions like James Watt’s steam engine
revolutionized energy use.
5. Stable Political Climate: A supportive government encouraged business ventures
and innovation.
Main Achievements:
 First Industrial Revolution:
o Mechanization of textile production (e.g., spinning jenny, water frame).
o Steam engines revolutionized transportation and manufacturing.
o Expansion of railways facilitated trade and communication.
 Second Industrial Revolution:
o Development of steel (Bessemer process).
o Harnessing electricity (light bulbs, power grids).
o Advances in chemical industries and the invention of the telephone.
Impacts:
 Positive:
o Urbanization and creation of jobs.
o Increased production and economic growth.
o Advances in medicine and public health.
 Negative:
o Harsh working conditions, particularly in factories.
o Environmental degradation due to industrial emissions.
o Exploitation of child and female labor.

4. World War I
Causes of WWI:
 Long-term:
o Militarism: Arms race and military buildup among European powers.
o Alliances: Complex alliances (e.g., Triple Entente vs. Triple Alliance)
created tensions.
o Imperialism: Competition for colonies fueled rivalries.
 o Nationalism: Ethnic tensions in multi-ethnic empires (e.g., Austro-
Hungarian and Ottoman Empires).
 Short-term:
o Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo by a Serbian
nationalist sparked the war.
Impacts on Vietnam:
 Economic Exploitation:
o Increased extraction of resources (e.g., rice, rubber) to support French war
efforts.
o Heavy taxation caused widespread hardship among Vietnamese peasants.
 Rise of Nationalism:
o Exposure to ideas of self-determination inspired Vietnamese activists like
Ho Chi Minh.
o Emergence of anti-colonial movements, setting the stage for future
struggles against French rule.
 Social Strain:
o Forced conscription of Vietnamese laborers and soldiers to aid the French
military.