WHAP Chapter 14 Margin Questions

11. In what different ways did the Atlantic slave trade transform African societies?

Africa became a permanent part of an interacting Atlantic world, both commercially and demographically. The Atlantic slave trade slowed Africa's population growth at a time when the populations of Europe, China, and other regions were expanding. The slave trade in general stimulated little positive economic change in Africa and led to economic stagnation. It also led to considerable political disruption, particularly for small-scale societies with little central authority that were frequently subject to slave raids. Some larger kingdoms, such as Kongo and Oyo, also slowly disintegrated because of the slave trade. But in other regions, like Benin and Dahomey, African authorities sought to take advantage of the new commercial opportunities to manage the slave trade in their own interests.

8. What was distinctive about the Atlantic slave trade? What did it share with other patterns of slave owning and slave trading?

Place - Atlantic Civilizations (Global) Time - 1450 to 1750 (Early Modern) The Atlantic slave trade was distinctive because of the immense size of the trade. Slaves were treated as dehumanized property. Status of slaves was also inherited - little hope of freedom. Racial dimension: slavery identified with Africa and "blackness." Shared: Slaves from Africa had also been sold to Asia & Europe.

10. What roles did Europeans and Africans play in the unfolding of the Atlantic slave trade?

Place - Atlantic Slave Basin Time - 1450 to 1750 CE Enterprise was in European hands. Because of European demand. They purchased slaves from African merchants and political elites. Initial capture for sale on the coast of slaves: African hands. European dealt as equals with local African authorities. Traded with goods for slaves.

9. What explains the rise of the Atlantic slave trade?

Place - Atlantic civilizations Time - 1450 to 1750 CE Started in the Mediterranean world with sugar. Europeans established sugar-producing plantations in Mediterranean. Required huge capital investment, technology, worker discipline, and a mass market of consumers. Needed slaves as labor source for plantations. Found source in Africa. Used slaves for American plantations - sugar, tobacco, and cotton.

4. To what extent did the British and Dutch trading companies change the societies they encountered in Asia?

Place - Eurasia (Indian Ocean) Time - 1450 to 1750 CE (Early Modern) Both British & Dutch companies conquered people by force - Islands of Indonesia (Dutch); & India (British). Dutch tried to control shipping and production of cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, and mace. Fought and conquered some small islands - forced them to sell only to the Dutch. On one island, replaced population with Dutch planters - monopoly on nutmeg, mace, & cloves. British created 3 major trading settlements. Naval forces. No match for Mughals - traded with permission. - Cotton textiles.

1. What drove European involvement in the world of Asian commerce?

Place - Eurasia (global) Time - 1450 to 1750 CE (Early Modern) Immediate motivation: desire for tropical spices - cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, cloves, and pepper - which were widely used for cooking, etc. Other products from Asia were in demand. Recovery of European civilization after Black Death. Growing western European societies - some had capitalist economies. Europeans resented Muslim monopoly on Indian trade (and Venetian). Find Prestor John. Europe used silver to pay for Eastern goods.

5. What was the world historical importance of the silver trade?

Place - Global Time - 1450 to 1750 CE (Early Modern) Created a global network of exchange. Silver deposits in Bolivia (New Spain) were found and mined and brought via merchants to Philippine Islands. Ist link between Americas and Asia. China commanded taxes to be paid in silver. - value went up. Standard Spanish silver coin - piece of eight - used by merchants in all continents as a medium of exchange. Created in city of Potosi in the Andes. Horrendous mining conditions - supported Spanish Empire. Silver profit in Japan created unity (Industrial Revolution)

3. How did the Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, and British initiatives in Asia differ from one another?

Place - Global Time - 1450 to 1750 CE (Early Modern) Portuguese: tried to monopolize spice trade with taxes. Failed - so they transported Asian goods. Spanish: Established Philippine Islands (colonial rule). Major missionary effort - Christianity. Dutch: Overtook by force. Stronger than the Portuguese. Organized into a private trading company. Focused on Indonesian Islands. Wanted to control production of spices. British: Forceful, trading company. Conquered India for cotton textiles.

6. Describe the impact of the fur trade on North American native societies.

Place - North America Time - 1450 to 750 CE (Early Modern) Native Americans found many benefits from the fur trade. Europeans gave gifts to native people which were of value to them. Protected them for a time from extermination, enslavement, or displacement. Half about - of native population died from European diseases. Fur trade generated much warfare - competition among Native Americans. French-British warfare -natives took sides. Grew dependent on European trade goods. Alcohol caused new problems with Native Americans.

7. How did the North American and Siberian fur trades differ from each other? What did they have in common?

Place - North America and Russia Time - 1450 to 1750 (Early Modern) Both North America and Siberian fur trades had similar consequences on native peoples: they became dependent on Russian/European goods, land was taken, animals were depleted. In North America, there was competition in commercial negotiations with Indians. Siberia - authorities imposed a tax or tribute paid in furs. Also - private Russian hunters & trappers competed with Siberians.

2. To what extent did the Portuguese realize their own goals in the Indian Ocean?

Place - Portugal & Indian Ocean (Global) Time - 1450 to 1750 CE (early modern) The Portuguese found that their ships could outgun and outmaneuver competing naval forces in the Indian Ocean. Cannons for coastal contact. Europeans were crude and not as good as Asian goods. They established bases in many places in the Indian Ocean - "trading post empire" Tried to monopolize spice trade -required all merchant vessels to purchase a pass on cargoes. Failed - Carrying Asian goods to parts. Unable to sell European goods.