Asian Sea-Trading Network  Stretched from the M.E. and Africa to East Asia. Three zones  Arabs offered glass, carpet, and tapestry  India offered cotton textiles  China, manufactured paper, porcelain and silk textiles

Asian Sea-Trading Network  Peripheral regions in Japan, Southeast Asia, and East Africa supplied raw materials.  Ivory from Africa and spices from Sri Lanka and Indonesia.  Profits gained from long distance luxury items and short distance bulk goods.  Most trade passed along coastal routes  Central control and military force absent.

Portuguese  Did not have profitable items for trade. Use force to enter the network.  Superior ships and weaponry unmatched (except by Chinese).  Won supremacy on African and Indian coasts and establish forts along the Asian coast.

Portuguese  Portugal lacked manpower and ships necessary for enforcement.  Many ignored government and traded independently.  Dutch and English rivals challenge the Portuguese and are successful.

Dutch  Decide to concentrate on the monopoly control of spices  English fall back to India  Dutch had better ships and were efficient.  When trade declines they charge fees for transporting products.  Also, buy Asian goods cheaply, transport them and charge for higher price.

Europeans  Do not conquer inland territories.  Establish tribute regimes.  Indigenous peoples lived under their own leaders and paid tribute in products produced by coerced labor under the direction of local elites.

Europeans  Minimal impact on Asian people  New trade routes linked Europe, the Indian Ocean world, the Philippines and the Americas.  Peaceful commercial world.  European ideas had minimal impact.