Silver Dbq

Silver has always been around but it wasn't until the 1500's to the mid 1700's that the

world began to use this item as a means of currency. Leading in the production of this element

was the Spanish colonial America and Tokugawa Japan. There were many drastic effects caused

from the new practice of imbursement. Documents 2, 4, and 6 display the effects upon the

European economy. The Chinese economy was also impacted as exhibited in documents 5 and 7.

Documents 1, 4, and 8 tell of the greed and obsession of luxury meanwhile documents 3 and 6

explain the suffering some endured.

The European economy was effected in both negative and positive ways. In document 2, a

Spanish scholar explains how the high prices practically

ruined Spain. This was caused because

of the expensive Asian commodities that they had to pay for using their own silver currency.

This hurt their economy because they were purchasing items that could not be afforded. On the

other hand, document 6 displays that there was still a huge wealth.

From the registered mines

alone there was 326,000,000 silver coins taken out. There was also a great amount that was

secretly taken out to Spain without the tax or registry fees. In document 4, Portugal's economy

advanced. When they travel from China to Japan, they carried the goods they received from

China such as white silk, gold, perfume, and even porcelain. They traded all of these

merchandises just for silver. More than 600,000 pieces of silver coins were taken from each of

their annual trip to Japan. The Portuguese then went back to China with the silver to purchase

even more luxury products. They knew how to circulate the silver with the goods to get more

than they had before, achieving the main goal of trade.

The Chinese have also had their share of economic expansion throughout the global flow

of silver. Written originally as an essay about the changing time of China, document 5 describes

the inflation on services. Such service was that of dying cloth. In the past when dye shops

allotted customers to obtain several dozen pieces of dyed cloth before charge, they later

diverted

to a different system. A bill was sent that required payment only in the form of silver instead of

traditional rice, wheat, soybeans, chickens and others of the sort. The profit from such commerce

was strictly silver allowing more proceeds than previously. In document 7, the Chinese sold

merchandise above the normal price to the outside countries. For example, Chinese silk yarn

worth 100 bars of silver was sold 200 to 300 bars in the Philippines. By overpricing their

products they are able to make double or even triple the original amount.

For the more wealthier countries and people thereof, there was a severe greed and

obsession for luxury. Document 1 states how some of lesser wealth could have only one bar of

silver and still manage to have some to spear meanwhile a wealthy person could have a

thousandfold of silver but still end up with nothing. This shows how the rich spend so much that

they cannot control themselves and are just greedy. Through document 4 it is evident that the

Portuguese were very grasping. Through their efforts to obtain more silver they also had a deep

desire for the opulence of the Chinese silks, gold, perfumes, and other high end products. The

Europeans bought nothing that they needed as described in document 8. Instead they invested in

items of little importance to them only for the pleasure of having it. As said, they drew nothing

of solid use only those that provided luxury or perishables. They hungered so much for it that

they were willing to give large quantities of gold and silver because of their cupidity. They

wasted their affluence on a grandeur lifestyle rather than investing it in things of

greater

importance.

Through the race for silver, many people suffered to provide the resources. In document 3,

those of lower income Chinese communities felt the downpour on a whole. They witnessed the

decreased value of grain because of the scarcity of silver coins. It was required of the citizens by

the national government to pay their taxes in silver. They struggled to do so when that same

government only disperses so little silver. The deflation in the value of grain had a toll on the

tillers who eventually received lesser pay and lesser land to cultivate. They weren't the only ones

to suffer. Told in document 6, 3,000 Indians were forced to break up the hard rich black flint.

They also endured harsh working conditions. When burdened with the heavy load of ore, they

had to climb up ladders or ropes that were not in good conditions. It was so bad that even an

empty-handed worker could barely maneuver up. The natives were distressed and toiled with

hard labor all to the advantage of the Europeans.

Additional documents would be very helpful in the analysis of the effects of the flow of

silver. There should be a document that compares and contrasts the differences in the European

and Chinese economies directly. This would help to determine which country benefited the most

from the affairs. Also a document in the form of a chart with actual figures and effects of all the

countries involved would be very wise. This would again allow more information and the overall

display of the most effected and least effected countries. Another good source could be word

from the mouth of those involved in the actual trade transactions to get their perspective and

motives. All of these would provide insight, accuracy, and understanding.

Overall, the flow of silver has had many effects on a whole. Through all of the documents

given all the effects are obvious. The European economy experienced setbacks and numerous

achievements. Alongside, the wealth of the Chinese economy advanced tremendously.

Throughout the silver phenomenon, greedy people had the materialistic mindset that only

focused on grandeur things. Despite those willing to spend all for luxury, there are still people

who endured great oppression. Good or bad, the effects of the flow of silver are very evident.