Transplanting

Effects With the discovery of the new world and the drastically increased interaction between Europe and Asia the 16th to 19th centuries saw some of the biggest changes in human history. As new markets, crops, materials and minerals became available hitherto obscure regions of the world suddenly became centers of the world’s economy having drastic effects on the people, economies, ecologies and technologies of the regions. The high demand for the new and often obscure and inaccessible commodities frequently created supply bottlenecks that created bizarre social changes. According to William Parker, there are two ways that these supply bottlenecks can be solved by two methods: Development of new technologies Applying vastly more resources to traditional methods

The Rubber Boom Rubber balls had been used by the ancient Aztec and Mayas but despite its unique properties was of little interest to the industrial world until the galvanization process was developed. Rubber was collected in Brazil from individual trees spread throughout the Amazon Forests. Production could not keep up with the demand resulting in skyrocketing prices. Henry Wickham smuggled rubber seeds to London which were then grown in Britain’s tropical colonies

Atlantic Forest The arrival of Portuguese colonists on Brazil’s Atlantic coast and the world’s high demand for Brazilian rubber, sugar and coffee resulted in farming practices that were not sustainable in the long term. The fertile soil of the Atlantic forest and its seemingly endless expanse resulted in farmers that stripped the land and quickly moved to a new plot. This has had lasting impact on the Atlantic Forest. Today only 8% percent of the forest remains.

Economic Impact The rubber boom brought incredible wealth to the main cities in Brazil and changed international boundary lines as countries fought to get the best rubber growing regions of south America. The transplantation of rubber trees to East Indian plantations that planted trees as close as possible quickly overwhelmed the Brazilian rubber production.

The California Gold Rush The California gold rush that was sparked in 1849 by the discovery of gold at Sutter’s mill not only changed California but helped to change the entire world economy. In 1848 California had a total population of 15,000 non indigenous residents. Within four years that would grow to 250,000 within the next four years. Including people from 25 different countries. Much of Mexico and the Pacific world got their before Americans. Largest boom in international commerce in history. International trade tripled in 20 years. Uncovered more gold between 1848 and 1860 than the previous 150 years combined. Brought in the gold standard United States became part of the pacific rim.

New Technologies Fertilizer Cotton Synthetic Rubber Farmers trying to maximize profits pushed the soil to its limits and rejected traditional time consuming and costly methods of restoring the soil. Guano was found to fix the problem. When supplies ran out synthetic fertilizer was invented. Cotton Mechanized spinning created a bottleneck a surplus of yarn. Developed the power loom to speed weaving process Synthetic Rubber In response to the high cost and demand for rubber a lot of effort was put into a chemical process by countries like the U.S. that had no acces.

Increased Resource Application Cotton The bottleneck in the textiles industry represents both methods. On the one hand weaving bottlenecks were solved by the creation of the power loom. On the other, the demand for raw cotton was answered by increasing labor. Mainly by slaves. Rubber Initially greater numbers of cheap laborers and natives were hired to meet demand. Tea The British put huge amounts of resources into growing tea in remote areas of India.

World Migration

Migration One of the most remarkable things about the recent globalization has been the massive movement of people. Often to remote and obscure regions of the world following new commodities. Brazil By 1700 roughly 300,000 Portuguese had moved to the Atlantic coast of brazil. California Following the gold rush the population of California increased from 15,000 people to 250,000 coming from all over the world. Second only to Americans, the Cantonese were the largest group in California with 40,000 people by 1853. Guiana One of the most diverse places in the world. Roughly 450,000 West African slaves brought to Guiana. After the abolition of slavery 400,000 indentured servants from East India, Portugal, China, and Java came to the European colonies in Guiana. Africa Millions of Africans brought as slaves to work in the Americas.