Download europeans in asia: 1450-1750

EUROPEANS IN ASIA: 1450-1750
Q: What
was the
nature of
Indian
Ocean
trade in
c1500?

Vast trade network
o 3 zones:
o Unique goods exported from each

o

o
o


Europeans begin involvement
o
o
to Calicut,
Europeans access the Indian Ocean Trade Network – (be able to explain initial forced entry.)
Indian Ocean Trade Network: Europeans Try to Consolidate Their Power
For Portuguese:

policy dominates
 seek

 superior fire-power
o
 Christian mission



o esp.
seize choke points
o
forts and warehouses (
)
Portugal Loses its Advantage…
 Portuguese weaknesses exploited by
&
o What were these weaknesses?
 Dutch
o East Indies (Spice Islands)

 Est.
o More realistic
o
into pre-existing trade network 
 English
o
o India becomes “
” in the crown of the British Empire
Limits to European Strength
 Control
 Some degree of dominance over locals…
o Dutch on Java (
o Spanish in
o
 But not far inland elsewhere
o Why?
 Europeans as subjects of foreign powers
o ex.
)
Christian Outreach
1. Which Christian denomination was strongest in Asian missionary activity?
2. Why was it difficult to win converts to Christianity in areas such as India, Indonesia, &
areas of the Philippines?
3. What strategies were practiced to win converts?
4. How successful were these missionaries?
Early Impacts of Europeans by 1700
1. To what degree did Europeans impact South and Southeast Asia?
2. What were this area’s major commercial centers?
3. Which had greater impact: the Columbian Exchange in the Americas or changes that
came with European involvement in the Indian Ocean trade network?
4. Overall, how impressed were Asians by Europeans?