Conquest, Disease and Trade


 
 
Concept Explanation
 

Conquest, Disease and Trade

Conquest, Disease and Trade: In the 16th century, the pre-modern world shrank after European sailors, found a sea route to Asia and America. For centuries before, the Indian Ocean had known an energetic trade with goods, people, knowledge, customs, etc. The Indian sub-continent was central to the trade, but the entry of Europeans helped to expand this trade towards Europe.

From the 16th century, America's vast lands, abundant crops and minerals transformed trade and lives everywhere. Precious metal, silver, found in the mines of Peru and Mexico enhanced Europe's wealth and financed its trade with Asia. In the 17th century Europe, legends spread about El Dorado. It was the fabled city of gold in South America.

Spanish and Portuguese : First Europeans to Conquer America: The Spanish and Portuguese were the first Europeans to conquer America in mid-16th century. The conquest was not just a result of superior firepower or military power. It was also due to the germs of diseases like  smallpox which they took with them. America's original Inhabitants had no immunity against these diseases that came from Europe. Small pox proved to be a deadly killer and decimates whole communities, paving the way for colonisation.

The first Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in New England, John Winthrop wrote in May 1634 that smallpox signalled God's blessing for the colonists. Until the 19th century, poverty, hunger,  overcrowded cities, diseases, religious conflicts and ill treatment of religious dissenters were common in Europe. As a result, thousands of people of Europe moved to America. By the 18th century, slaves captured in Africa worked in plantation of cotton and sugar for European markets.

Trade Till the 18th Century: Till the 18th century, China and India were among the world's richest countries. From the 15th century, China was forced to restrict its overseas contacts and retreated into isolation. After that, America gradually moved the centre of world trade westwards. Later, Europe emerged as the centre of world trade.

Decimate : To destroy a large number of plants , animals , people etc . 

Dissenters : One who refuses to accept established beliefs and practices . 

Plantation : Estate for cultivation of cash crops like tea , coffee , cotton , tobacco , sugarcane etc .

 
 


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