This chapter is all about the different trade routes throughout the world and the goods that were being traded. Commerce was one of the main forces that drove globalization during this time period. Europeans wanted to become engaged in the trade with Asia because they desired to obtain the spices from these places, mainly in India. Columbus and Vasco De Gama both sought trade routes to Asia. This amazes me how individuals would just go out in search for something with no hesitation of what could happen to them or the journey that they will experience. They had so much courage and bravery to do these long voyages with limited resources. It may sound bad but I thought it was pretty cool that the Portugese didn't really have any goods that were in good competition with the others so they found a different way of getting goods, piracy. The silver trade soon took over the spice trade. The book said that 85% of silver was found in spanish america, I wonder if that is still the case today? Spanish america gained dominance with the new luxurious good of silver. It was hard for me to imagine being able to pay a tax in silver, this is what china used because of the such high demand for the good. Next was the hunt for fur. There was intense competitions for animal furs but the supply was sharply decreasing. A lot of countries were in high demand for fur but they could have done the hunting themselves but instead they relied on trade. Europeans usually traded with the indians. The russians depended on the siberians. Thats what trade became, it was the use of other peoples good in return for yours, the goods you were unable to obtain.
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