The Columbian Exchange

689 Words2 Pages

Throughout most of early world history, travel was very limited; what trade countries did have was normally with their neighbors. As technology progressed and new lands were discovered, a chain reaction of global connection occurred. Finally, people from different parts of the globe could trade their resources or culture for new ideas and resources. As Europeans embraced new spices and fabrics, they became accustomed to them, and they became dependent on the trade and expansion, leading to global interdependence. As European demand for easy trade routes to Asia increased, Christopher Columbus decided to solve the issue; however, he stumbled on something far greater than Asia and accidently discovered the Americas. In his journal he mentions, …show more content…

Natives needed the trading network to get refined resources from Europeans just as badly as the Europeans needed raw resources. It was imperative that both parties would get along, and Captain James Cook a superb example of the trust needed. The Hawaiian Islanders complained about the venereal diseases that Cook’s men were distributing; therefore, he tried to quarantine his men to the ship in hopes that relations with the islanders wouldn’t sour (James Cook). However, the sailors got out again, and the islanders just killed the British Captain. Those two parties relied on each other for trade, but when trust collapsed, trade collapsed. Captain Cook’s story depicts that dark side of interdependence and shows how cultures will …show more content…

Quilong of the Qing Dynasty mentions, “As the tea, silk and porcelain which the Celestial Empire produces are absolute necessities to European nations and to yourselves, we have permitted . . . that trading agents should be established” (J.O.P. Bland). His position clearly shows the reluctance the Chinese had to trade with Europeans; however, he also knows money can be made in the process, so he allows this trade to continue. The Chinese Emperor tried to prevent European culture from spreading to Asia, but the Europeans will either trade peacefully or come with guns. Thus, the most introverted and isolated cultures, like China, realized that they would need some sort of global interdependence to continue to grow and

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