Chapter Fifteen: Global Commerce

Europe in comparison to Asian Commerce was very behind in the game, but came in with strong force to own the game. The game in speak is trade and the trade routes within the Indian Ocean and the areas surrounding. Many European countries began to trickle in this system, seeing how much money it could bring about, yet not having anything worth trading for. This lead them to have to pay using silver or gold for goods, such as Chinese silk, Indian cotton, and a multitude of different spices. Europe has just recovered from the Black Plague and their population was growing. Each country made their ways differently into the trade route, treated the people in different ways, but they all contributed to this new regime of globalized trade.

The first of European countries to attempt trade started with the Portuguese. This new diverse area was different than what the Portuguese knew but they quickly took charge as best they could. Had they attempted to participate peacefully the could have done so, but the fact of the matter is, is that they had nothing precious or worthy to offer up, as whatever goods they could muster up were seen as unattractive in Asian markets. What else fueled them in not being peaceful, is taking in note of how Indian Ocean merchant ships were mostly un-armed and they also strongly lacked in canons on their ships as the Portuguese had.  They used their military advantage and quickly set bases for themselves. The Portuguese claimed these bases forcibly and without mercy, causing much bloodshed. Their actions are what led to the term, and what set up other countries to do the same, known as “trading post Empire.” Because the Portuguese were one of the first Europeans to come along they attempted to enforce other trading ships to purchase a pass and to pay duties of 6 to 10% of others cargoes. However, the Portuguese began to revert to their ancient ways, as they still had nothing to offer up in trade, and they were completely outnumbered by Asian traders.

After the Portuguese came the Spaniards and their conquest of what they named the Philippine Islands. It was easy for Spain to take over the Philippine Islands as they had very small and weak military societies; there was neither king nor anyone who ruled people. The Spaniards also took this opportunity because of the close proximity to China and that it was a spice island. There take over, unlike the Portuguese was often bloodless and relatively easy. Later on however there would Chinese revolts that would lead to massacres by the Spaniards.

After the Spaniards the Dutch and the English joined in on the trading. Both these countries were stronger militarily and economically than Portugal. They organized their own Indian Ocean ventures through private trading companies unlike the Portuguese. The Dutch focused on Indonesia while England focused on India. The Dutch were harsh with their rule over Indonesia forcing the people to sell only to them, and if they refused they would burn the crops. The British East India Company worked differently than that of the Dutch.  They established three major trading settlements, and instead of forcing themselves onto the land they secured their trading bases with permission of Mughal authorities or local rulers, later becoming heavily involved with trading with Asia.  However, both England and the Dutch’s trading post began to evolve into a more conventional form of colonial domination. This is something that happened in the beginning with that of the Portuguese and with what we see with Spain. The idea to rule may not be the first thought as trade bases are set up but as opportunities open, the European countries take it the moment it is laid out in the open for them.