Maritime History in Southeast Asia Quiz

Maritime Trade and the Rise of Southeast Asia

• Rectangular sails and advanced cartography facilitated the construction of larger ships, including galleons.
• The decline of the Ming dynasty led to Malacca's emergence as a central trading hub in Southeast Asia by the end of the 15th century.
• Chinese and Japanese traders were active in Southeast Asia during this period, contributing to regional commerce.
• Spain expanded its maritime trade networks, controlling east-west traffic across the Pacific and transforming the Philippines into a vital entrepot for Asian-Pacific products.

Trade Systems and Economic Regulations

• Merchants needed a "boleta" or ticket to participate in the galleon trade, which limited trade slots.
• Heavy fees (e.g., 250 pesos) imposed by the governor-general, which evolved into the Juan repartimiento system.
• Trade predominantly involved primary products from China, Southeast Asia, and India, including silk, spices, cotton, and ivory.
• The Philippine economy faced crises due to reliance on external galleon trade and minimal local participation, leading to subsistence conditions.

Disasters Affecting Maritime Trade

• The Manila-Acapulco galleon route was vulnerable to natural hazards and attacks from pirates or rival European powers.
• These precarious conditions significantly impacted trade stability and economy.

Cultural Exchanges: The Columbian Exchange

• The Columbian Exchange introduced new flora and fauna from Latin America to the Philippines.
• Spanish colonial religion influenced local practices, incorporating fiestas, Simbang Gabi, and other traditions.

Forced Labor and Shipbuilding

• Polo y servicio was a forced labor system requiring each barangay to meet quotas, resulting in public works projects.
• Shipbuilding relied heavily on polistas, comprising intense labor in construction, which particularly flourished in various shipyards.
• Workers faced harsh conditions, including long hours, inadequate food, and family separation, leading to high mortality rates.

Role of Chinese Communities

• Chinese traders played a crucial role in the colonial economy as merchants, artisans, and laborers, with the first records dating back to the Song Dynasty.
• Their community in Manila grew from 150 in 1570 to 20,000 by 1603, facing discrimination and violence.
• Marriages between Chinese traders and natives produced Chinese Mestizos, who were recognized as natives.

Slave Raiding and Conflict

• Slave raiding by Moros became a significant issue for the Spaniards, notably affecting areas in the Visayas.
• Intense slave trading began in 1599 and continued, leading to the capture and enslavement of many local populations.

Effects of Slave Raiding

• Local populations fled to mountains or fortified towns, revealing the limitations of Spanish control and forced labor systems.
• The consistent threat and attacks disrupted agricultural production and altered demographics.

Socioeconomic Changes in the 19th Century

• Economic systems transitioned from Spanish monopolistic control in the 1600s-1700s to a free market by the 1800s.
• The galleon trade was abolished in 1830, resulting in a commercial economy focusing on trade and agriculture.
• The "Economic Society of the Friends of the Economy" sought agricultural expansion, issuing plans that included tobacco monopolies.

Tobacco Monopoly and Economic Implications

• The tobacco monopoly (1782-1882) forced local areas to specialize in tobacco cultivation, harming environmental sustainability.
• Farmers faced quotas that made it difficult to grow other crops, resulting in dependency on government purchases at low prices.

The Royal Company of the Philippines

• Established in the 1780s with a capital of 8 million pesos, aimed to connect Spain and the Philippines.
• Sought to enhance agriculture and manufacturing by redistributing profits and promoting local products.
• The company struggled financially, ultimately collapsing in the mid-1830s, leading to free market opportunities and greater international trade exposure for the Philippines.