International Trade Before Columbus

Questions and Answers

What motivated Europeans to find a new route to the Indies?

The desire for commerce with the Indies

What was the Silk Road?

A series of trade routes extending between Europe and East Asia

What was the primary factor that made the Silk Road problematic for European travelers?

The need to pass through Muslim-controlled territory

What was the name given to the region that comprised modern-day North and South America?

The Western Hemisphere Signup and view all the answers

What was the time period characterized by global European exploration?

The Age of Exploration Signup and view all the answers

What is the main goal of a country following a mercantilist economic philosophy?

To amass as much raw wealth as possible, usually through trading, monopolizing resources, and strict regulation Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary purpose of colonies in a mercantilist system?

To serve as a source of wealth and resources for the mother country Signup and view all the answers

What was the transatlantic slave trade?

A system of trade where European countries traded goods for enslaved people in Africa, who were then used to produce goods in the New World Signup and view all the answers

Why did European countries want to secure colonies with valuable resources such as sugar?

To prevent competing countries from having access to these resources Signup and view all the answers

What was the ultimate goal of the transatlantic slave trade from the perspective of European countries?

To bring wealth and prosperity to Europe and the American Colonies Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

International Trade Before the Age of Exploration

Before Christopher Columbus' arrival in the New World in 1492, Europeans had no concept of the Western Hemisphere (North and South America), but they knew about Asia, which they perceived as a paradise, rich in exotic goods like silk, spices, opium, and foreign animals.

European Trade with Asia

For centuries, Europeans traveled to the Indies (East Asia) via the Silk Road, a series of trade routes extending between Europe and East Asia.
The Silk Road was a long, dangerous, and brutal journey that posed risks for European travelers, especially through Muslim-controlled territory.

The Age of Exploration

The desire to find a new westward route to the Indies motivated Christopher Columbus and brought about the Age of Exploration (15th-18th century), characterized by global European exploration.
European countries like Spain, England, France, Portugal, and the Netherlands competed to establish colonies and secure commerce.

Mercantilism

Mercantilism, an economic philosophy, dominated the Age of Exploration, where a country sought to amass wealth through trading, monopolizing resources, and strict regulation.
Colonies existed to bring wealth to the mother country, as seen in the example of England securing sugar-rich islands in the Caribbean to export sugar at a high price.

The Transatlantic Slave Trade

The transatlantic slave trade emerged as a critical part of international commerce, where African enslaved people were used by European countries to harvest crops and manufacture products.
The triangular slave trade involved trading resources for enslaved people in Africa, then trading enslaved people for natural resources in the New World, and finally, trading natural resources for products in Europe.
The transatlantic slave trade brought prosperity to Europe and the American Colonies but was a ruthless and brutal system.