Changes and continuities
Prompt 1
During the global era around the 1500 period, the rulers promoted various changes to the territories they ruled or controlled. Territory refers to a state or an organization made up of city-states, empires, and theocracies. The changes were made the geopolitical changes of the ruling gradually. Apart from the changes, there were also continuities in the territories, which were referred to as systematic transformation in fields such as production, civilization, and nationalism. Some of the specific changes incurred are;
i.Changes in state name and capital city
This was a particular change in 1500 era which was brought by the rulers in controlling their territories, for example, the state of Bahrain changed its name to the kingdom of Bahrain and Manama remained the capital, this assisted them to geographically map different areas of interest for material wealth for industries and promoting peaceful rule over their territories. The change was also applicable in Somalia in Africa were the French changed the name to the Somali republic.
- Centralized government
This change involved the re-unification of small kingdoms to form one system of ruling or government, which promoted transparency and accountability in the sharing of power among the European leaders and the leaders of the territorial state. The centralized government promoted, for example, the French and British supported the Hindu kingdoms convert the Muslim kingdoms in India to build one empire, which was centralized, and this strengthened their power in the sub-continent. The specific change was also conducted in African territories were the British and French used indirect and assimilation systems of ruling respectively; this helped to promote the small kingdoms to one central power were the African leaders were used in ruling.
iii. Introduction of official languages.
This was a specific change that was introduced by rulers to, make their territories to communicate using a common language to enable share of ideas through trade and culture. For example, this was practiced in many African states ruled by the British, where they changed to English as an official language common to all the people and the rulers.it was also used in Roman was the official language change from Latin to Greek.
The continuities made by the rulers to their territories include;
i.Systems of governance and culture.
This was a specific change in Roman where the byzantine empire continued the rule of the Roman empire after the fall of the western Roman empire, and the continuation assisted in transforming the Roman laws and culture where people living under the byzantine empire continued to see themselves as Romans.
- Social forces.
The above are the specific changes and continuities practiced by rulers to control their territories.