Chapter 15 (pp.433-448)

  This chapter was mainly about trading between different countries and people. It talked about the East India Trading Companies. Both the Dutch and India entered in early 17th century. They displaced Portugal and competed with each other. The Dutch settled in Indonesia, the English in India and the French settled also. The Dutch East India Company controlled shipping and production of cloves, cinnamon, and mace. It forced people to only sell to the Dutch, and it destroyed the economy of the Spice Islands. The British East India Company wasn't as sophisticated as the Dutch Company. The British navy gained control of the Persian Gulf and The Arabian Sea and established companies in Bombay, Calcutta, and Madras. In Asian commerce the Europeans were no military threat. In the case of Japan there was expulsion of missionaries, the Japanese were barred from travel abroad, Europeans were banned, except the Dutch, and Japan was closed off from Europe from 1650-1850. The Silver and fur trades were HUGE! Silver was discovered in Bolivia and Japan in mid 16th century. Spanish America produced about 85% of the Worlds silver. There was a growing demand for silver in China and the bulk of silver supple ended up there. Silver enriched the Spanish monarchy but Spain fell and lost dominance when the value of silver fell. The Japanese profited from silver, and the Tokugawa Shoguns used it to defeat rivals. There was intense competition in North America for fur. The Europeans traded with the Indians and the Russians competed with the Siberians.