Everything Everywhere Daily - Episode Summary: "The Year 1700"

Release Date: March 2, 2025
Host: Gary Arndt | Glassbox Media
Podcast: Everything Everywhere Daily

Introduction

In the "The Year 1700" episode of Everything Everywhere Daily, host Gary Arndt takes listeners on a comprehensive journey back to the dawn of the 18th century. This period, nestled within the early modern era, marked the beginning of profound transformations that would shape the social, political, economic, scientific, and technological landscapes of the modern world.

Global Overview in 1700

China under the Qing Dynasty

Gary begins by exploring China under the stable and prosperous Qing Dynasty, led by the Kangxi Emperor. Highlighting China's significant economic stature, he notes:

"China remained the world's largest economy, producing approximately 33% of global manufacturing output" (12:45).

The Qing Dynasty's emphasis on expanding borders, stabilizing the economy, and fostering a cultural renaissance set the stage for sustained growth. Despite restrictions on foreign trade confined to the port of Canton, China's internal trade networks and manufacturing prowess in ceramics, silk, and tea were unmatched.

Japan during the Edo Period

Japan's Edo period, under the Tokugawa Shogunate, was characterized by deliberate isolation through the sakoku policy. Gary describes the highly structured society:

"Merchants were increasingly wealthy and influential, despite being at the bottom of the social hierarchy" (18:30).

Urban centers like Edo (modern-day Tokyo) thrived with vibrant cultural scenes, including theater, literature, and the visual arts. The population nearing one million made Edo one of the world's largest cities at the time.

India under the Mughal Empire

The Mughal Empire, led by Emperor Aurangzeb, stood as one of the world's wealthiest and most populous entities:

"Economically, India remained extraordinarily wealthy, producing approximately 25% of the world's manufacturing output" (25:10).

However, the extensive military campaigns under Aurangzeb strained the empire's resources and sowed the seeds of its eventual decline. The Mughal's architectural marvels, such as the Taj Mahal, underscored their cultural and economic sophistication.

Africa's Diverse Political Landscape

West Africa in 1700 was a mosaic of powerful states like the Kingdom of Dahomey, the Ashanti Empire, and the Oyo Empire, all deeply involved in the Atlantic slave trade. In contrast, East Africa's Swahili coast maintained robust trading networks across the Indian Ocean. Ethiopia, under the Solomonic dynasty, preserved its Christian heritage and independence amidst Ottoman threats.

Gary emphasizes the accelerating transatlantic slave trade's profound impact:

"The transatlantic slave trade was accelerating with profound demographic and social consequences for African societies" (32:55).

The Ottoman Empire's Status

Once the preeminent power in the Old World, the Ottoman Empire faced significant challenges by 1700. The Treaty of Karlowitz marked their first major territorial losses, signaling a decline in their European dominance:

"This treaty marked the Ottomans' first major territorial losses and a turning point in their status as a European power" (40:20).

Despite these setbacks, Ottoman society thrived culturally, with Islamic art and architecture flourishing in cities like Constantinople, Damascus, and Cairo.

Pacific Islands and Australia

The Pacific Islands and Australia remained largely untouched by European imperial ambitions. Indigenous Australians maintained their diverse cultural and linguistic identities, while Polynesian, Melanesian, and Micronesian societies upheld sophisticated navigation and trading practices. European exploration in the Pacific was minimal, laying the groundwork for future interactions.

The Americas under European Colonization

Gary provides a nuanced view of the Americas in 1700, highlighting the deep transformations brought by European colonization:

"Spanish America was organized into the viceroyalties of New Spain and Peru, characterized by racial hierarchies and economic systems based on mining and plantation agriculture" (47:15).

In North America, indigenous populations persisted despite significant declines due to disease and conflict. European powers like Britain, France, and Spain dominated coastal regions, with vast inland territories still under native control.

Europe: A Continent in Transition

Political Shifts in England

England experienced significant upheaval in the 17th century, culminating in the Glorious Revolution of 1688:

"The Glorious Revolution removed England's last Catholic monarch and permanently replaced them with Protestants" (54:30).

This shift solidified Protestantism and laid the groundwork for constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy.

The Devastating Thirty Years' War

The Thirty Years' War left an indelible mark on Continental Europe:

"The war led to immense destruction, famine, and disease, particularly in German territories, leading to fatality rates as high as 50% in some areas" (60:45).

The Peace of Westphalia in 1648 not only ended the conflict but also established enduring principles of state sovereignty and religious tolerance.

France under Louis XIV

Louis XIV, the Sun King, epitomized absolute monarchy and transformed France into Europe's dominant military and cultural powerhouse:

"From his palace at Versailles, the French court set cultural standards that other European courts sought to emulate" (68:10).

Decline of the Spanish Empire and Rise of Russia

The Spanish Empire saw the decline of the Habsburg dynasty with the death of Charles II in 1700, triggering major European conflicts over succession. Meanwhile, Russia under Peter the Great was rapidly modernizing:

"He founded the city of St. Petersburg in 1703, marking Russia's shift towards Europe" (75:50).

Peter's reforms expanded Russia's military might and aligned its governance more closely with European models.

Intellectual and Scientific Advancements

Gary delves into the remarkable scientific and philosophical breakthroughs of the 17th century, highlighting figures such as Galileo Galilei, Johannes Kepler, Isaac Newton, and René Descartes:

"Isaac Newton published his masterpiece Philosophia Naturalis Principia Mathematica, unifying celestial and terrestrial physics with his Laws of motion and universal gravitation" (82:20).

These advancements laid the foundational principles of modern science and mathematics, fostering a spirit of inquiry and rationalism that would fuel future innovations.

The Enlightenment Begins

The seeds of the Enlightenment were sown during this period, with philosophers like John Locke advocating for empiricist epistemology and natural rights:

"John Locke argued for natural rights and consensual government, providing the theoretical foundations for liberal democracy" (90:35).

Global Interconnectedness

Trade networks and the Columbian Exchange were transforming ecosystems and societies:

"American crops like maize, potatoes, and tomatoes were being adopted in Africa, Europe, and Asia, contributing to population growth" (98:10).

These exchanges not only boosted agricultural productivity but also interconnected diverse regions economically and culturally.

Conclusion: A Time of Transition

Gary concludes by portraying the year 1700 as a pivotal moment of transition. While the seeds of the modern world were sown during this period, their full realization would unfold over the ensuing centuries:

"The year 1700 appears as a time of transition. The modern world as we know it hadn't yet arrived, but we can see the ideas developed during the 17th century that would fully bloom in the centuries to come" (105:50).

Acknowledgments

Gary extends his gratitude to the executive producer Charles Daniel, associate producers Austin Oakton and Cameron Kiefer, and the Everything Everywhere community on Patreon, Facebook, and Discord. Listener support and engagement are highlighted as crucial elements that sustain the podcast's mission to educate and inform.

This episode offers a rich tapestry of global historical contexts, illustrating how the year 1700 stood at the crossroads of tradition and transformation. Gary Arndt's meticulous exploration provides listeners with a deep understanding of the forces shaping the early modern world, making it an invaluable resource for the intellectually curious.