Ch 14 Part 2
Europeans wanted to find a route to India, because they wanted to get in on the spice trade, they wanted to grow their population after the Black death and Muslims controlled a lot of the trading in the East. Europeans couldn't trade with the big boys since their product wasn't of any value, so they found themselves paying for goods. What is interesting is that Europeans did not dominate in trade, I never even knew that other countries and Muslims were dominant during that time. How can europeans get in on the trading game? Portugal knew they couldn't keep up with those other traders, so they decided to start charging people to use sea lanes. They were weak in trading and decided be the bullies. They had the means and it was the only thing they could control. They created a trading post empire, where traders were required buy a pass and pay duties or else they wouldn't be allowed to pass. Of course this would not last long or go well with the other countries. It just wasn't fair.
Other european countries knew they needed to make their claim somehow, and so they landed on the Philippines. This was the middle ground from the Americas to the Philippines but mostly close to China. There weren't a lot of settlers and no real military power. Each group lived amongst themselves and their group decided on how to live etc. From what I have been reading, that is exactly an open opportunity for Spain to come in and claim their territory. They colonized the Philippines, but there was no real threat, so Spanish take over wasn't a big deal. They were already doing what they have been doing, just under slightly different instruction.
The Atlantic save trade has the most human consequences. And thats also compared to other slave trading that happened elsewhere. This was a large-scale practice of owning and exchanging human beings. This was present in many other societies but there was something different about North America. This was a normal way of living and a lot of Africans were sold beyond their continent. I am not saying slavery of any kind is ok, but there was something about slavery in north america that just left a more bitter taste in people's mouth. Some slaves were assimilated into the societies of their owners, and some were more free than others. Slaves in America were treated inhumanely and lacked any kind of rights. Slavery was inherited and passed down to children. Slavery became synonymous with ones' blackness. So many factors drove people to enslaving people. Europeans learned about sugar, and realized that the process of making sugar was dangerous, so they needed outsource these jobs. Slaves were sought for everywhere, and used religion to sometimes excuse the use of slaves. Africans also were seen as dumb animals, which made it easier for the conscious mind to not treat them like humans. This lead to a rise of racism, and ease of enslaving people.
The need for slaves drove the slave trade. Europeans traded with Africans for slaves and used their competitive drive with their neighbors to lower prices of slaves. African merchants were seen as equal and were in control of the trade until passed onto the Europeans. The book says that the saying Africans sold their own to slavery is wrong, since they didn't have any idea of their own identity is a little bit of an excuse. It takes away their responsibility for taking part in the slave trade and putting it on entirely on the Europeans. Both parties were wrong. European kept needing slaves, but the Africans kept raiding small groups and outcasts and kept providing. They played just as much of a part to the slave trade as Europeans. Even the profits used were kept to themselves. Whether or not their understood the concept of African as an identity, they still had no regard to what would happen to the people they sold.
Slaves in Africa was starting to increase as well. It meant status and influence. However what happened in the New World was something different. It is interesting because many empires used slaves and for al different purposes, but nothing compares to how they were treated in North America.
Trading and global commerce increased. The exchange of goods and food were everywhere just as it is today. We can find goods from all over the world in our local store. What used to be seen as for the elite only has become more available to the next person. Of course there are still product that is out of reach for some, but global commerce and trading is still prevalent today.
Other european countries knew they needed to make their claim somehow, and so they landed on the Philippines. This was the middle ground from the Americas to the Philippines but mostly close to China. There weren't a lot of settlers and no real military power. Each group lived amongst themselves and their group decided on how to live etc. From what I have been reading, that is exactly an open opportunity for Spain to come in and claim their territory. They colonized the Philippines, but there was no real threat, so Spanish take over wasn't a big deal. They were already doing what they have been doing, just under slightly different instruction.
The Atlantic save trade has the most human consequences. And thats also compared to other slave trading that happened elsewhere. This was a large-scale practice of owning and exchanging human beings. This was present in many other societies but there was something different about North America. This was a normal way of living and a lot of Africans were sold beyond their continent. I am not saying slavery of any kind is ok, but there was something about slavery in north america that just left a more bitter taste in people's mouth. Some slaves were assimilated into the societies of their owners, and some were more free than others. Slaves in America were treated inhumanely and lacked any kind of rights. Slavery was inherited and passed down to children. Slavery became synonymous with ones' blackness. So many factors drove people to enslaving people. Europeans learned about sugar, and realized that the process of making sugar was dangerous, so they needed outsource these jobs. Slaves were sought for everywhere, and used religion to sometimes excuse the use of slaves. Africans also were seen as dumb animals, which made it easier for the conscious mind to not treat them like humans. This lead to a rise of racism, and ease of enslaving people.
The need for slaves drove the slave trade. Europeans traded with Africans for slaves and used their competitive drive with their neighbors to lower prices of slaves. African merchants were seen as equal and were in control of the trade until passed onto the Europeans. The book says that the saying Africans sold their own to slavery is wrong, since they didn't have any idea of their own identity is a little bit of an excuse. It takes away their responsibility for taking part in the slave trade and putting it on entirely on the Europeans. Both parties were wrong. European kept needing slaves, but the Africans kept raiding small groups and outcasts and kept providing. They played just as much of a part to the slave trade as Europeans. Even the profits used were kept to themselves. Whether or not their understood the concept of African as an identity, they still had no regard to what would happen to the people they sold.
Slaves in Africa was starting to increase as well. It meant status and influence. However what happened in the New World was something different. It is interesting because many empires used slaves and for al different purposes, but nothing compares to how they were treated in North America.
Trading and global commerce increased. The exchange of goods and food were everywhere just as it is today. We can find goods from all over the world in our local store. What used to be seen as for the elite only has become more available to the next person. Of course there are still product that is out of reach for some, but global commerce and trading is still prevalent today.
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