Spanish And Portuguese Empires In The 16th And 17th Centurie

Spanish And Portuguese Empires Sixteenth And Seventeenth Centurieseur

Spanish and Portuguese Empires, Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries Europe in the Sixteenth Century Iberian exploration copied by the Dutch, French, English The dominance of Spain, Charles V (), Habsburg Empire Gold, silver, and increasingly other commodities from the New World. Spain as Europe’s first super-power The Protestant Reformation. The Ottoman Empire Cities of Gold or Commodities? Not every Spanish explorer/colonist/conquistador was as successful as Cortez and Pizarro (and their soldiers) Indian tributary labor– encomienda, and the New Laws Sugarcane– native of Asia, but first successfully grown by Europeans in Canary Islands, and by Portuguese Corn, and other grain crops, tobacco Slavery… Don’t Forget the Portuguese!

Carrying trade: Spices and Silk from India, SE Asia, and China Ivory, some gold from Africa Luxury goods, for the consumption of the elite mostly. Sugarcane plantations in Brazil. The Slave Trade and Atlantic Commerce Spanish and Portuguese Empires, Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries The Dutch Commercial Empire, late 1600s The Netherlands AKA: Holland, the Low Countries, the United Provinces The English called them “the Dutchâ€, from Deustch, German Part of the Spanish Empire through the sixteenth century. Rebellion () and Reformation Textile industry, commercial relations in Europe, commercial ties to the New World. The Dutch in Asia, Seventeenth century France and England Late arrivals to the New World (later sixteenth and early seventeenth century).

Wars with Spain Caribbean, but mostly North America Exploitation of North America: Fur trade, tobacco, eventually cotton The role of the State: Mercantilism The growth of trade inspired competition between European kingdoms. Most people viewed international trade as finite, and thus fiercely protected their piece of the pie Competition means war, and war takes money, so export-trade was encouraged to insure the flow of wealth, especially gold and silver, into the kingdom. Active government encouragement and control of trade through chartered companies. Shift in political power from older, traditional social elites to wealthy traders and merchants, the new economic elites “Commercial Revolution†Gradual economic growth throughout the Early Modern period (1500s-1700s).

Grows out of the urban trade of the later Middle Ages: Luxury items (silk, spices, art objects) imported from Asia Locally monopolized commodities, like the Flanders wool industry or the Baltic fish industry. Such trade fueled the sixteenth century voyages of discovery, as most explorers were seeking shorter routes to dominate the luxury goods trade with Asia. Growth in volume of trade increased the size of markets for these goods: soon prices were low enough that non-elites could begin consuming sugar, tobacco, coffee, spices, etc. Increased trade fueled the creation of institutions of commerce, such as banks, insurance, and credit, which in turn reduced the dangers and cost of trade and shipping, which reduced the cost of luxury good, making them more affordable to non-elites.

“The Companiesâ€, Governments chartered private merchant companies with carrying out trade in certain areas. These chartered groups eventually merged into companies that monopolized trade in their spheres of influence, and competed with the trade companies of other nations. Subsidized from royal treasuries. British East India Co. 1600 Dutch East India Co. 1602 Dutch West India Co. 1621 etc… Trade and Slavery One hundred thousand slaves, Black or mulatto, work in sugar mills, indigo and cocoa plantations, sacrificing their lives to gratify our newly acquired appetites for sugar, cocoa, coffee, and tobacco---things unknown to our ancestors. Voltaire, Essay on Morals and Customs, 1756 Why did the Christian powers not consider that their religion, independent of natural law, was fundamentally opposed to Black slavery? The answer is that those nations needed slaves for their colonies, their plantations, and their mines. Denis Diderot, "Natural Liberty," Encyclopedia, 1765 Definitions: Slavery Chattel Slavery Military Slavery Prisoners of War Indentured Servitude Serfdom/Tributary Obligations Ancient Slavery (Mediterranean) POWs, usually “outsiders†Unwanted children and indebted people Household vs. Agricultural vs. Hard Labor Legal power of slave owners and limits Gladiators in Rome Medieval Slavery (Europe and Mediterranean) Christianity and Islam both generally discouraged enslavement of co-religionists. Enslavement of religious “others†permitted, within certain limits. Encouragement of manumission, especially of converts; humane treatment. Gradual disappearance in Western Europe, limitation in the Islamic world.

Paper For Above instruction

The sixteenth and seventeenth centuries marked a profound era of transformation for the Spanish and Portuguese empires, driven by exploration, conquest, and the expansive reach of their global trade networks. These empires laid the groundwork for modern capitalism and significantly altered the geopolitical landscape of the early modern world. This paper examines the key aspects of these empires in this period, including their expansion, economic strategies, societal changes, and the impacts of their colonial enterprises.

Introduction

The Age of Discovery was characterized by the proliferation of maritime exploration initiated by Spain and Portugal, motivated by the pursuit of wealth, territorial expansion, and the spread of Christianity. These empires established vast colonial territories in the Americas, Africa, and Asia, facilitated by revolutionary navigation techniques and a burgeoning merchant class. Their dominance was also reinforced by political and military power, as well as complex economic systems centered around mercantilism and trade monopolies.

Expansion and Conquest

Spain's empire expanded primarily through conquests in the New World, with conquistadors like Hernán Cortés and Francisco Pizarro leading expeditions that resulted in the subjugation of the Aztec and Inca civilizations. These conquests not only brought immense wealth, particularly in gold and silver, but also facilitated the spread of European culture and religion. Portuguese expansion was characterized by establishing maritime routes around Africa to India and Southeast Asia, laying the foundation for their colonial presence in Brazil, Africa, and parts of Asia. The motivation for these ventures was often the search for precious metals and trade routes, exemplified by the quest for India and the Spice Islands.

Economic Impacts and Trade Networks

The economic strategies of Spain and Portugal centered around extracting and exporting valuable commodities, including gold, silver, sugar, and spices. The infamous encomienda system exploited indigenous labor, while plantation economies in Brazil and the Caribbean relied heavily on slave labor, fueling European demand for African slaves. The transfer of wealth from the New World led to inflation in Europe, known as the Price Revolution, and supported the growth of urban centers engaged in luxury trade and banking.

The establishment of trading companies, such as the Dutch East and West India Companies and the British East India Company, exemplified state-supported monopolies that controlled significant portions of overseas commerce. These bodies facilitated the flow of commodities like spices, silk, ivory, and precious metals, integrating Europe into burgeoning global markets. The trade in slaves became a central component of this economic expansion, with millions of Africans forcibly transported across the Atlantic to serve in plantation economies.

Societal Changes and Cultural Impacts

The prolonged contact with the New World and other regions led to significant societal shifts within Europe. Wealth accumulated through colonial enterprises contributed to the emergence of a wealthy merchant class, gradually challenging traditional aristocratic dominance. The increase in wealth also fueled the growth of urban centers, fostering a consumer culture that expanded access to luxury goods like sugar, tobacco, and coffee among the non-elite populations. Furthermore, religious missions aimed at converting indigenous peoples contributed to cultural exchanges and the spread of Christianity, albeit often coupled with violent suppression and cultural erasure.

Slavery, both in European colonies and within the European continent, became a contentious issue. Initially justified by religious and economic motives, over time, abolition movements gained momentum, culminating in various bans on the transatlantic slave trade by the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.

Impact on Global Trade and Power Dynamics

The period saw the consolidation of mercantilist policies across European powers, fostering intense competition that often resulted in violent conflicts, including maritime wars and colonial skirmishes. These conflicts competed for control over lucrative trade routes and territories, shaping the balance of power among European nations. The growth of trade generated immense wealth but also necessitated the creation of financial institutions such as banks, insurance companies, and credit markets, which reduced risks and expanded commercial activity.

Colonial enterprises and trade companies effectively shifted political power, as emerging wealthy merchants and financiers gained influence, challenging traditional aristocratic authority. This transition is emblematic of the broader economic revolution—sometimes called the 'Commercial Revolution'—that characterized early modern Europe.

Conclusion

The sixteenth and seventeenth centuries represent a transformative epoch where European imperial ambitions, driven by exploration, trade, and colonization, reshaped the world. The Spanish and Portuguese empires expanded their territories, establishing lucrative colonies and trade networks that facilitated the transfer of wealth, people, and cultural influences across continents. Their economic policies, societal transformations, and the expansion of slavery profoundly affected global history—laying foundations for the modern interconnected world.

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