2006 DBQ
Using the documents, analyze the social and economic effects of the global flow of silver
from the mid-sixteenth century to the early eighteenth century.
Example 1
The flow of silver, economically and socially, was fueled by greed. Traders from
countries like China and Portugal would come back from major silver mines with only silver
nothing else. In the Ming dynasty in China, the government wanted silver so much that taxes
were to be paid with it.
This greed ruined countries like Spain around 1570, and brought economic decline in
China around 1593. In document 2, de Mercado spoke of silver currency leaving Spain to pay for
Asian commodities. In China, court official Wang Xijue (doc 3), reveals that although the
national government wants taxes to be paid in silver, they don’t disburse enough silver and now
prices of crops have dropped. But the government isn’t the only face of greed. A county official
in document 1 states that a poor man with only 1 bar of silver is well enough but an extravagant
man can never have enough.
Portuguese and Chinese traders leave from China with silks, perfumes, and porcelain to
go to Japan or the Philippines and return with nothing but silver (doc 4 and 7). In fact, the
Portuguese have a ship that goes to Japan every year that brings back more than 600,000 coins of
Japanese silver.
In document 6, de Espinosa remarks on the greed of Spanish merchants. He tells about
the 326,000,000 silver coins taken from mines in Potosi, and about the large amount of silver
being smuggled out to avoid taxes and registry fees to places China and the Philippines. European
traders take the silver to China as well as gold in exchange for materials to supply luxury. They
admit in document 8 that this is the only thing of solid worth they get from Asia.
Silver was an important part of the economy but only because of greed and luxury.
Governments wanted silver so bad it became the main currency. Silver was smuggled out of
mines to avoid taxes. Suppliers of silver were exploited by their consumers need for silver.
Example 2
The social and economic effects of the global flow of silver from the midsixteenth century all the way to the early eighteenth century had many diverse and special
affects worldwide. Silver was the economic backbone of China, and was the main source
of commodity money used, and with the rich black flint ore found at Potosi, 326 million
silver coins have been taken out according to the Spanish royal records.
Silver the currency used in China, and was very valuable among the Chinese and
Japanese people alike, and it fluctuated in the markets. In fact, the Portuguese went to
Japan just to acquire silver coins, and from there, they would take those silver coins to
China and bring back Chinese gold, perfumes, copper, porcelain, and many other luxury
goods; the Portuguese used silver to its advantage in China. Ye Chunji, a county official
during the Ming dynasty, which was when Silver reached its apex in China, said, “the
frugal man with only one bar of silver currency can have something left over, whereas the
extravagant man with a thousand can still not have enough.” This statement means that
silver was valuable and worth enough for a man to have something left over after using
one bar of silver, but silver cannot buy everything if you want an extravagant and a
profligate life. Later on, the Ming dynasty began disbursing little of the precious metal,
but required it for its national taxes. As a result, the prices of certain items, especially
grains, had sharply decreased. So the fluctuation of silver was prominent in the Chinese
society.
In Spain, there was a different scenario gong on: it was being flogged by high
prices. But the Asian market and its prices were very attractive to them, especially since
they had a plethora of silver from there silver sources in the West Indies and the “silver
mountains” which they minted into coins. So they were able to receive many of the
luxuries of the Asians. Silver was just a metal to them, but the luxuries that silver and
gold could offer them were astounding.
To conclude, silver was an important and valuable part of the society because of
its use as commodity money throughout the world. The effects of this trade or silver and
spices were socially and economically beneficial in favor to the Europeans.
Example 3
Silver had a global effect from the mid-sixteenth to the early eighteenth centuries.
Silver, at the time, was a level of status in the Ming Dynasty and it was also the only
form of currency at a time. Silver also ruined Spain because it had to pay silver for Asian
commodities. Ships that went to Japan sometimes only came back with silver. The
Spanish had enslaved the Indians of the Americas and forced them to work in the Spanish
silver mines.
Silver played a big role in the way the people of the world lived. Ming Dynasty
inhabitants had to pay all their debts and taxes in the form of silver, which they received
from the moneylender. Silver was also used as a level of status. The country official
named Ye Chunji Stated that a frugal man can hold a wedding with one Bar of silver and
still have some left over, whereas the extravagant man with a thousand can still not have
enough.
The article mentions that countries like Portugal trade Chinese gold, perfume,
copper, porcelain, and other luxury goods and bring back nothing but silver.
Example 4
In the 1570’s Chinese government demanded that all domestic taxes and fees
must be paid in silver. Ever since this became law, the social and economic lives of
others had become increasingly difficult. Since Chinese goods were in high demand (and
could only be bought with silver) the social life of some people were crippled and an
economic standstill occurred as nations could only pay China with the rare and valuable
metal; silver.
Social life had become crippled as many people lost money or were charged large
fines that could not be paid. According to document three; the home district of Wang
Xihjue(who was a Ming Dynasty court official) had suffered from a decrease in the price
of grain. As the silver coin became more popular and items could no longer be paid with
rice Wang Xihjue as with many others, received less income for their labor. This in turn
made it more difficult for them to put more land into cultivation, reducing the amount of
grain available. In document six, 3000 Indians worked aimlessly in Spanish mines
digging for ore. Since the Indians were a cheap labor force, Spain could pay China more
silver allowing them to acquire more goods like silk and pottery from China.
Economy stood at a stand still for most countries as China gained the most wealth
from silver. China demanded only silver in exchange for goods. Since silver at this time
was in high demand and showed a country’s wealth, many countries fell subject to loss of
economic power. According to an English scholar in document eight, “Europe draws
nothing from China except perishable good, but sends to Asia gold and silver which
never returned.” As the flow of silver is globally stunted and focused around Asia, many
countries could not claim wealth; but send it to Asia to aid others.
Document one displays the greed of the Chinese government and how they crave
silver. This craving of silver socially and economically made the lives of people and
many nations difficult, forcing governments to take extreme action as they put Indians to
work and hurting the average community as the price of rice greatly decreased. Nations
lost wealth, and were put at an economic standstill that China stood on top of. A
document showing the amount of silver available to all major nations would help in
picturing the loss of many great states.
Example 5
The global flow of silver from the mid sixteenth century to the early
eighteenth century had social and economic effects on the world. The economic effects
was that it changed the currency of many countries and their people and the social effects
of the global flow of silver was that it brought different luxuries were brought to different
parts of the world.
When the global flow of silver rose up in the 16th to the 18th century the currency
of many countries were changed and the economy became much different. Because of
the Ming Chinese government requiring all domestic taxes and trade fees in silver, many
farmers became poor, as Wang Xijue, a Ming dynasty court official said: “As the price of
grain falls, tillers of the soil receive lower returns on their labors, and thus less land is put
into cultivation.” (Doc. 3). People used to be able to pay with almost anything like with
“rice, wheat, soybeans, chickens, or other fowl” but “when you have your cloth dyed you
receive a bill, which must be paid with silver obtained from a moneylender.” (Doc. 5).
Also when countries traded their goods with each other, one country would get the goods
the other country produced while the other got silver. An example of this was when He
Qiaoyuan said, “they trade the goods we produce…they only return with silver coins.”
(Doc. 7) Another example of this happening between two countries was when Charles
D’Avenant said “sends to Asia gold and silver, which is there buried and never returns.”
(Doc. 8.)
The global flow of silver also affected the world socially as the luxuries of one
country were being made available to the rest of the world. Ralph Fitch, a British
merchant, talks about the “Portuguese bring from China gold perfume, silk, copper,
porcelain, and other luxury good. “ (Doc. 4)
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As I’ve said in class, most of the DBQs I read in Colorado last year scored no more than
two of the possible nine points. Overwhelmingly, the points getting earned were for thesis and
grouping. Very, very few students were earning points for using all the documents, evaluating
point of view (POV) and explaining the need for additional documents. This is where you can
separate yourself from the pack.
Good examples of evaluating POV:
Remember – as with any part of your essay – to explain your rationale when assessing POV. It is
NOT enough to write something like this: “Ralph Fitch (D4) is biased because he’s British.” You
must point out something of significance that a historian might note in analyzing the document.
“He Qiaoyuan (D7) writes to the emperor that the trade ban should be lifted because
Chinese goods are attracting very high prices, but his motives may be in question since the very
goods that are most profitable are coming from his own province. His position on the trade ban,
therefore, could reflect his own opportunity to personally profit.”
“Ye Chungji (D1) offers moral guidance on the importance of being frugal, and his words
come in an order limiting wedding expenses, which suggests a poor economic climate. As a
county official, he would have arrived at his position through the civil service system and
been well-versed in Confucian texts, and his words reflect that moral outlook.”
Good examples of explaining the need for additional documents:
Again, it’s NOT enough to identify a possible document: “It would be helpful to have a document
from a female perspective because all of the ones here are from men.” Now carry the
thought/explanation to the next level: “A female perspective might be useful because it could
show …”
(Minimally acceptable) “It would be good to see a document directly from a Chinese
peasant farmer to see if the flow of silver affected their lifestyles as much as Documents 1, 3 and
5 seem to suggest.”
(Minimally acceptable) “A document from a Japanese merchant would help in analyzing
whether the effects of the silver trade affected the Japanese economy as much as it did the
Chinese and Spanish economies.”
(More sophisticated analysis) “The documents in evidence suggest a worsening economic
climate for ordinary Chinese peasants. None sheds light on women, however, so it’s impossible
to assess whether the flow of silver had the same or different effects on Chinese men and
women. One wonders, for example, if the tougher economy led to a hardening of patriarchy. A
government record or court document showing an upswing in crimes against women, for
example, might suggest a differential social effect on Chinese women.”