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Questions and Answers
By the end of the eighteenth century, what major change affected the supply of indigo?
By the end of the eighteenth century, what major change affected the supply of indigo?
What was the primary reason European cloth manufacturers initially relied on woad instead of Indian indigo?
What was the primary reason European cloth manufacturers initially relied on woad instead of Indian indigo?
Which of the following regions did NOT cultivate indigo by the seventeenth century?
Which of the following regions did NOT cultivate indigo by the seventeenth century?
What color outcome did cloth dyers prefer from indigo compared to woad?
What color outcome did cloth dyers prefer from indigo compared to woad?
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Which factor prompted European governments to relax the ban on indigo imports?
Which factor prompted European governments to relax the ban on indigo imports?
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Study Notes
Indigo and Woad in the Textile Industry
- Indigo, a tropical plant, was used to dye cloth in the 13th century, but its price in Europe was very high.
- European cloth manufacturers mainly relied on woad, a local temperate plant, for blue and violet dyes.
- To protect their economic interests, woad producers lobbied European governments to ban indigo imports.
- Indigo was favored by cloth dyers for its rich blue color compared to the pale dye produced from woad.
- In the 17th century, pressure from European cloth producers led to the relaxation of indigo import bans.
- Indigo plantations were established in the Caribbean, South America, and North America.
- The demand for indigo skyrocketed in the late 18th century due to Britain's industrialization and cotton production growth.
- Indigo production from the West Indies and America significantly decreased, contributing to a global indigo shortage.
- Britain faced a desperate need to secure alternative indigo sources.
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Description
Explore the historical significance of indigo and woad in the textile industry, focusing on their use for dyeing cloth from the 13th to the 18th century. Understand the economic impacts, the competition between producers, and the shifts in demand due to industrialization. This quiz will enhance your knowledge of fabric dyeing practices and historical trade dynamics.
