https://padlet.com/vestal78/t5uzltcqzkwg Document-Based Discussion en-us 2017-02-21 16:21:46 UTC 2017-02-24 05:00:45 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.com/vestal78/t5uzltcqzkwg/wish/155224223 THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMICAL EFFECTS OF SILVER CREATED TRADE BETWEEN SPANISH COLONIES IN THE AMERICAS AND EUROPEAN, INDIAN, AND CHINESE EMPIRES, WHICH LED TO A BETTER GLOBAL ECONOMY.             


]]> 2017-02-21 17:12:05 UTC https://padlet.com/vestal78/t5uzltcqzkwg/wish/155224223 https://padlet.com/vestal78/t5uzltcqzkwg/wish/155224235
ALTHOUGH SILVER HAS BROUHGT A CHANGE IN SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF THE MID SIXTEENTH TO EALRY EIGHTEENTH CENTURIES, SILVER HAS ENHANCED SOCIAL AND ECONOMICAL  LEVELS WITH A MORE ADVANCED GLOBAL TRADE SYSTEM. 

In 1599, a british merchant by the name of Ralph Fitch spoke of the importance that silver served in the 16th century. Portuguese merchants would travel to Japan with commodities such as white silk, gold, perfume and porcelian, and in return brought nothing back but silver, and allowing for trade with China(DOC 3). Likewise, as stated by He Qiaoyuan,  Chinese merchnts in 1626 traded with the Philippines and returned with nothing but silver  coins, legitimizing the signafance of silver.]]> 2017-02-21 17:12:07 UTC https://padlet.com/vestal78/t5uzltcqzkwg/wish/155224235 https://padlet.com/vestal78/t5uzltcqzkwg/wish/155224278 DESPITE THE PREVIOUSLY SUCCESSFUL BARTERING SYSTEM USED BEFORE THE 16th CENTURY, THE IMPORTANCE OF SILVER BECAME EVIDENT IN GLOBAL TRADE AND LOCAL ECONOMIES UNTIL THE 18th CENTURY.
The economic effect of silver was seen in multiple societies during the Early Modern period. Silver mines began to spark in the newly discovered Americas, and this attracted the atention of many Eurasian societies. Between 1545-1628 the Potosi silver mine produced 326 million silver coins (Doc. 6). Since this information is coming from Antonio Vazquez de Espinosa, a spanish preist, this shows how silver played an important role in all aspects in spanish culture. The Portugese used Japanese silver to trade with China and recieve many luxury goods such as silk and porcelain (Doc. 3). British merchants such as Ralph Fitch traded silk, gold, and porcelain for nothing but silver and through his first hand account it is seen how European countires used Chinese goods to their advantage.]]> 2017-02-21 17:12:15 UTC https://padlet.com/vestal78/t5uzltcqzkwg/wish/155224278 aliabdar000 https://padlet.com/vestal78/t5uzltcqzkwg/wish/155224284 DESPITE LIVING LUXURIOUSLY IN THE GROWTH OF THE GLOBAL ECONOMY, THE PEOPLE OF THIS TIME WERE DEPENDENT ON THE OVERUSE OF SLAVES AND THE SURPLUS OF SILVER.

While the silver trade may have had a positive effect on global economy, it negatively effected lower-class people. Due to the lack of silver bullion in China, the value of grain went down, causing peasants to fall deeper into the chains of poverty. In Document 4, the practice of money lending]]> 2017-02-21 17:12:15 UTC https://padlet.com/vestal78/t5uzltcqzkwg/wish/155224284 https://padlet.com/vestal78/t5uzltcqzkwg/wish/155224303 DESPITE THE CONTINUOUS FLOW OF SILVER, THERE WAS A SHORTAGE OF SILVER COINS IN ASIA, WHICH LED TO COERCIVE LABOR SYSTEMS AND AN ECONOMIC DOWNFALL. Due to a need in silver coins, there were many social changes. As said by Antonio Vasquez, "Indians worked away hard with picks and hammers, breaking up that flint ore". Since there was a need of silver the Spanish resulted to using the Indians for their benefit. Another social change was the decrease in agriculture. The Ming Dynasty court official stated that "less land is put into cultivation...due entirely to the scarcity of the silver coin."]]> 2017-02-21 17:12:18 UTC https://padlet.com/vestal78/t5uzltcqzkwg/wish/155224303 https://padlet.com/vestal78/t5uzltcqzkwg/wish/155224896 ALTHOUGH SILVER IS NEEDED FOR POLITICS TO MAINTAIN POWER,  IT HAD A GREATER SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC GLOBAL IMPACT AROUND 1570 TO 1750.  

The social effets of the global silver flow was impacted in mostly China, Spanish America, and Europe. For instance, a Ming dynasty court official explains how laborers "recieve lower returns on thier labors, and thus less land is put into cultivation"(Doc. 2). The silver flow negativley affected society, resulting in more work and less money. This connects to the Opium Wars, because The United Kingdom needed leverage]]> 2017-02-21 17:13:50 UTC https://padlet.com/vestal78/t5uzltcqzkwg/wish/155224896 https://padlet.com/vestal78/t5uzltcqzkwg/wish/155226090 DESPITE THE POOR LIVING CONDTIONS THE PEOPLE OF THE WEST HAD TO EXPIRENCE, THEIR ACCESS TO SILVER GAVE THEM AN ECONOMIC ADVANTAGE OVER THE EASTERN SILVER TRADE THROUGH THE 16TH CENTURY.
According to a Spainish Scholar , "high prices of Asian commondities ruined Spain's currency flow." Since the Spainards spent an extensive amount of silver on the foreign goods, other territories like the Philippines could build ships and create an economic prowess. This type of Mercantilism showed the vast differences ]]> 2017-02-21 17:16:37 UTC https://padlet.com/vestal78/t5uzltcqzkwg/wish/155226090 https://padlet.com/vestal78/t5uzltcqzkwg/wish/155492007 between the Spainish and Filipino trading companies. However, the Ming Dynasty also struggled with poor harvests due to the scarcity of the silver coin as said by Wang Xijue. Which then lead to lower money returns for laborers, making the tillers decrease the amount of land they planted on, also documented by Wang Xijue. Once commerce improved, trade from port cities like Macao opened their doors to other regions like Portugal creating a network with Japan. ]]> 2017-02-22 16:00:15 UTC https://padlet.com/vestal78/t5uzltcqzkwg/wish/155492007 https://padlet.com/vestal78/t5uzltcqzkwg/wish/155492054 The silver the Spanish obtained was used to great economic advantage in trading with Asian countries. The Spanish scholar Tomas de Mercado's account of the affect of silver in the Philippines points out this fact when he explained the great riches of the city of Manila (Doc. 1). The silk trade in the Philippines bettered the Chinese economy due to the Spanish desire for Chinese goods. This is seen in the report by He Qiaoyuan where he states that silk can be sold for double or triple its actual value in the Philippines (Doc. 5).]]> 2017-02-22 16:00:22 UTC https://padlet.com/vestal78/t5uzltcqzkwg/wish/155492054 https://padlet.com/vestal78/t5uzltcqzkwg/wish/155492122 The scarcity of the silver coin lowered the costs of grains and the value of the land. The shortage of silver coins also forced countries to make more trading alliances. A british merchant, Ralph Fitch, said that the Portugese "have a great ship that goes to Japan every year, and brings back more than 600,000 coins' worth of silver". The Portugese partnered up with Japan which benefitted both countries. Not only did the Portugese get the silver coins they needed, but the Japanese also got many products such as silk, gold, perfume and porcelain. Another Ming Dynasty court official reported that the Chinese "only return with silver coins" when they trade in Southeast Asia and the INdian Ocean.]]> 2017-02-22 16:00:31 UTC https://padlet.com/vestal78/t5uzltcqzkwg/wish/155492122 https://padlet.com/vestal78/t5uzltcqzkwg/wish/155492265 In document 4, the practice of moneylending altered the face of commerce in China by complicating the lower class barter system. with the scarcity of the silver coin and the requirement for it in trade, it became increasingly difficult for Chinese pesants to buy goods previously available to them. Document 2 provides an explanation for the grievances of the peasants through the absorbtion of silver by the elite class. When the elites retained all silver available to them, they prevented cultivation of local land. Similarly, conditions for the Incan workforce were not better. As shown in document 6, work conditions were unbearable to the point where their physical health deteriorated. 5137]]> 2017-02-22 16:00:53 UTC https://padlet.com/vestal78/t5uzltcqzkwg/wish/155492265 https://padlet.com/vestal78/t5uzltcqzkwg/wish/155492482 . . . over china because they were exporting silver in exchange for tea. They created this leverage by growing opium in the recently conquered Indian subcontinent. The opium exported to China obliterated the economy and the people of China's life. Another social effect occured in Spanish america. Spanish preist, Antonio Vasquez de Espinosa wrote that "more than 3000 Indians worked away hard with picks and hammers"(Doc. 6). These labor workers vigiously worked in poor conditions trying to find silver that has long since been exhausted. The silver flow led to a degree of  slavery and a series of unfair treatment. Charles D' Avenant, an english scholar, explains that "Europe draws Asia nothing of solid use: only material to supply luxury, ..perishable commodies, but sends to Asia gold and silver, which is there buried and never returns"(Doc. 7). This trade is very unequal and therefore can cause problems in the needs of both, ]]> 2017-02-22 16:01:26 UTC https://padlet.com/vestal78/t5uzltcqzkwg/wish/155492482 https://padlet.com/vestal78/t5uzltcqzkwg/wish/155492877
In document 1, it is shown the negative impact silver had on Spain's economy, by the unfair trade they were participating in with Asia. This, however, is not a problem globally as it is more with just Spain's economy, becuase their dominance as a nation was weakened as Asia become more powerful. Furthermore, as stated in document 7, Europeans have become agitated at the power Asia has inheireted from the silver trade, while they sufer in the absence of domiantion. ]]> 2017-02-22 16:02:31 UTC https://padlet.com/vestal78/t5uzltcqzkwg/wish/155492877 https://padlet.com/vestal78/t5uzltcqzkwg/wish/155497035 The California gold rush from 1848 to 1855 had similar social and econmic effects to the trade of silver from 1570 to 1750. They ]]> 2017-02-22 16:12:16 UTC https://padlet.com/vestal78/t5uzltcqzkwg/wish/155497035 https://padlet.com/vestal78/t5uzltcqzkwg/wish/155505141 The control Spain had over China due to their supply of silver can be compared to the control England had over the Colonies.Like China the colonies had materials that could not support them alone and depended on England for required materials such as China depended on Spain for silver.]]> 2017-02-22 16:30:03 UTC https://padlet.com/vestal78/t5uzltcqzkwg/wish/155505141 https://padlet.com/vestal78/t5uzltcqzkwg/wish/155597106 but "it can never be advisable for England to quit this trade, and leave it to any other nation". England's people needed these clothes from Asia in order to keep up with social standards and Asia wanted power.


Synthesis: This extreme boom in trade during the Early Modern period is very similar to the trading network of the Han Dynasty's Silk Road around 100 B.C.E. The silk road opened new doors to many regions all over the vast continent. The silk road was due to cultural interaction, but was continued because of the need for luxury items. The trade of both time periods brought economic growth and diffusion of many cultures. ]]> 2017-02-22 20:35:39 UTC https://padlet.com/vestal78/t5uzltcqzkwg/wish/155597106 https://padlet.com/vestal78/t5uzltcqzkwg/wish/155622835 On the economic side of the scale many countries,such as Japan,Spain,and England, were prospering because of amounts of silver and global trade routes. For example in document 3,Ralph Fitch talks of accounts of trade in the West Indies. Fitch portrays that the Portuguese benefit from their relationship with Japan and China. The Portuguese would carry Chinese goods in exchange for silver This portrays a great deal of the economical differences between countries at the time.It is a similar process as seen in document5,when the Spaniard would come to china looking for luxury items and then proceed to Luzon to sell the items for higher values and return back with a pleora of silver larger than before.On a less beneficial side economy it can be shown that as in document 1,trade and demands for Asian commodities caused the sky rocketing of prices in Spain. The skyrocketing prices were accompanied with the flow of silver currency outof  Spain in exchange for goods making it harder to buy goods.Lastly in document 7, it is seen that as D'Avenant writes,"it can never be advisable for England to quite this trade, and leave it to any other nation." D'Avnant is pointing to the fact that England is stuck in trade where they gain luxury and their silver and gold is never returned.At the same time it is recognized that to leave trade would mean to be left behind.]]> 2017-02-22 22:53:58 UTC https://padlet.com/vestal78/t5uzltcqzkwg/wish/155622835 https://padlet.com/vestal78/t5uzltcqzkwg/wish/155635670 The silver flow had substantial effects on the economy that differed throughout the world. Japan was one of the few areas with a major silver mine and used it accordingly to export silver to country's like China. China's economy prospered considerably from this silver flow, which is seen when British merchant, Ralph Fitch, wrote that "the Portuguese use this Japanese silver to their great advantage in China (doc 6)". In exchange China traded goods such as gold, perfume, silk, copper and porcelain. This trading system brought on by the silver flow caused the economy of both China and Japan to flourish immensely]]> 2017-02-23 00:50:03 UTC https://padlet.com/vestal78/t5uzltcqzkwg/wish/155635670 https://padlet.com/vestal78/t5uzltcqzkwg/wish/155645863 2017-02-23 02:19:06 UTC https://padlet.com/vestal78/t5uzltcqzkwg/wish/155645863 https://padlet.com/vestal78/t5uzltcqzkwg/wish/155645882 An economic effect of silver was the could be how it dictated the economy of towns. There were shortages of the silver coin, which made the price of things such as grain fall. This was because of the government receiving the silver it needs, but not giving enough out in return in order to restore the flow of silver.9 (Doc. ).  Another way silver helped economically was how it created trade between Japan and Portugal. The Portuguese went to 
Macao with trading goods and made 600,000 coins of silver in profit. They then use this silver to gain the supplies they need in China in turn for the silver made. (Doc. 3)]]> 2017-02-23 02:19:15 UTC https://padlet.com/vestal78/t5uzltcqzkwg/wish/155645882 https://padlet.com/vestal78/t5uzltcqzkwg/wish/155645923 2017-02-23 02:19:40 UTC https://padlet.com/vestal78/t5uzltcqzkwg/wish/155645923 https://padlet.com/vestal78/t5uzltcqzkwg/wish/155667111 In other economic means, the usage of silver began to expand in every day situations in China. Xu Dunqiu Mind, a writer, stated "when you have your cloth dyed you receive a bill, which must be paid with silver "(Doc. 4). Silver became something that was essential in communities' economies, and all had to have possession of it when it came to trade. Being a popular method when handling trade, He Qiaoyuan, a Ming dynasty court official, reported to the emperor stating "when Chinese merchants trade in Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean, they trade the goods we produce with others. But when they travel to Luzon (Philippines), they only return with silver coins"(Doc. 5). This displays the impact silver had on different communities, for some meaning little influence on economy, and for others, complete domination. 

Another way silver interfered with economy was when silver flow was the ruin of Spain's economy. Many Asian commodities like fine silks, porcelain and spices, as well as less exotic goods like granite cobblestone the Chinese use to balance ships was sold to Spain. Spain purchased the cobblestone to pave streets, but then sold it to China in exchange for silver(Doc.1). This caused a massive flow of silver from Spain resulting in a wealth vacuum that severely hurt Spain's economy. If not for the silver flowed into China in ludicrous amounts. This led to the Ming dynasty deciding to back their currency with silver, however the silver kept pouring into the country. So much silver was being brought into China, that the value of silver became hyper inflated. The inflation of silver caused the Ming dynasty to collapse, which would not have happened for quite a while after if not for the silver flow around the world.]]> 2017-02-23 06:40:44 UTC https://padlet.com/vestal78/t5uzltcqzkwg/wish/155667111 https://padlet.com/vestal78/t5uzltcqzkwg/wish/155668742 Adding on to the Spanish connection with Japan, a Spanish scholar expounded on the fact that "high prices ruined Spain," (Doc 1). The connections for Spain economically were not all so great because the Asian countries were buying out all their silver which made prices high so Spaniards were not able to purchase sliver. Xu Dunqiu Ming wrote a novel about a commercial city in which he goes onto say that "when you have your cloth dyed you receive a bill, which must be paid with silver," (Doc 4). In the more eastern Asian countries, silver was in high demand because it was seen as very valuable. Economically this allowed the wealthier classes to thrive and the poorer classes to fail. This can also been seen in Europe during the Black Plague because the kings and queens were able to thrive because they had money and wealth while peasants often died off. Lastly, an English scholar by the name of Charles D' Avenant once wrote, "For Europe draws from Asia nothing of solid use,"(Doc 7). Asia at this time depended solely on western countries to supply their demand of silver but they never had any invaluable items to offer. The reason these European countries continued to provide for these the Asian needs is because of the one thing not available to Europeans : Chinese silk and spices.

The social and economic effects of the silver trade made a great turn in the global trade system which led to the many successes that we as a human race have achieved over thousands of years]]> 2017-02-23 07:01:29 UTC https://padlet.com/vestal78/t5uzltcqzkwg/wish/155668742