Andy Chen
Period 6
The Asian trading world and the coming of the Europeans
MI: When the Portuguese arrived in India they realized that they had only reached a small part of the
vast Asian trade network
Vasco da Gama foray into Asia was only a small segment of a larger network of commercial exchange
and cultural interation
Asian sea trading network broken down into 3 main zones
West was a Arab zone based on glass,carpets, and tapestries
India with its superb cotton textiles dominated the center portion
China excelled in making paper porcelain and silk formed the east
Japan Southeast Asia and parts of east Africa provided raw materials
There no central control and military force was absent from commercial exchanges within it
Trading vessels were lightly armed
Trading Empire: The Portuguese response to the encounter at Calicut
MI: the idea of mercantilists motivated the Portuguese to use military force to meet their demands
when fair trade was unattainable
Portuguese had little except gold and silver to trade
Mercantilist made idea of trading silver and gold unthinkable
Decided to use force to extract spices and other goods using their superior ships and weaponry
No1 except the Chinese junk fleets could match them
Took advantage of deep division in Asian competitors and their inability to combine their forces
effectively in battle
In 1502 Da Gama returned to Asia and force both on African and Indian ports to be part of a tribute
regime
1509 naval fleet from Egypt and India proved unable to beat the Portuguese
Soon began to build forts in strategic locations
Aim of empire was to create a monopoly control over spices such as cinnamon
Portuguese vulnerability and the rise of the Dutch and English trading empires
MI: While the Portuguese would manage to control the flow of trade for a short amount of time
ultimately they would decline due to corruption and heavy loss in shipping.
Portuguese for decades control much of the spice flow ex nutmeg and mace
Lacked control of peppery and cinnamon
Corruption lack of military discipline and resistance of Asians weakened the empire
Early 17th century Dutch and English challenged for control Dutch would win
Dutch took Malacca and built a new port at Batavia in 1620 on the island of Java
Dutch trading empire used same idea as the Portuguese building forts and factories
To regulate flow they would uproot other planters crops
Demand for spice declined and their effort to control the flow became more expensive
Began to depend on fees such as transporting from one area to another
Going Ashore: European tribute systems in Asia
MI: On the coast and areas around it the Europeans were able to dominate using their ships and
cannons but further inland the natives would dominate.
As the Europeans moved inland their military advantages and ability to dominate Asians disappeared
rapidly
Huge Asian armies offset the European advantages in weaponry
Dutch felt compelled to to conquer coastal areas of Ceylon to control sale of cinnamon
Later on moved into the highlands of western Java was ideal for growing coffee
In each area that the Europeans went ashore on they set up tribute regimes
Overlords were content to let the indigenous people live in their traditional settlements
Tribute payed in forms of agriculture products
Spreading the Faith: the missionary Enterprise in South and Southeast Asia
MI: Protestant Dutch and English were doing little to win converts but in mainly isolated area
conversion was wide spread
Dutch and English had little interest in winning converts
In many parts of Africa and India Islam or Hinduism was already deeply entrenched
Francis Xavier were willing to minister to the poor and low caste people
These missions made little head way with the higher class caste group
Robert di Nobili decided to learn Hindu language and customs but it seemed he was converted instead
High caste members unwilling to pray with the lower poor class people
In the Philipines the Spanish had success in conversion with converting of local leaders who would then
convert their followers