Global Trade and Empires

Global Trade and Empires

1. How did the Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, and British initiatives in Asia differ from one another?

2. What was the significance of the silver trade during this time of empire building?

3. How did the emergence of the fur trade affect those indigenous peoples who had long lived in North America?

4. What roles did Europeans and Africans play in the development of the Atlantic slave trade?

5. How did the emergence of the Atlantic slave trade change and indeed transform African peoples and societies?

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APA

Global Trade and Empires

1. How did the Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, and British initiatives in Asia differ from one another?

• Portuguese: The Portuguese were among the first European nations to establish a significant presence in Asia. They set up fortified trade posts and monopolized key trade routes (e.g., the spice trade). Their strategy was based on military control and a strong naval presence.
• Spanish: The Spanish, unlike the Portuguese, established colonies in the Philippines and focused more on missionary work alongside trade. They aimed to convert indigenous populations to Christianity, establishing a more colonial presence.
• Dutch: The Dutch established the Dutch East India Company, which functioned like a semi-governmental entity, focused on maximizing profits through efficient trade and sometimes military intervention. The Dutch were more involved in commerce and less interested in establishing territorial control compared to the Portuguese or Spanish.
• British: The British initially started with small trading outposts but eventually built a vast colonial empire through the British East India Company. Their approach was more focused on controlling the economy and local governance, particularly in India, leveraging both trade and military strength.

2. What was the significance of the silver trade during this time of empire building?

• The silver trade played a central role in the global economy during the period of empire-building. Silver was a valuable commodity, especially for European powers. The Spanish, in particular, extracted large quantities of silver from their colonies in the Americas (especially from mines in Potosí). This silver flowed into Europe, facilitating global trade.
• It also acted as a medium of exchange in East Asia, especially in China, where the demand for silver to pay taxes and trade with Europeans contributed to the establishment of global trade networks. The silver trade tied the Americas, Europe, and Asia together in an interconnected economy and…