Specialization, Trade, and Interdependence Lesson 4

Specialization Part 1

The Uneven Distribution of the Factors of Production The factors of production- land, labor, capital, and entrepreneurship- are not spread evenly around the world.

The Uneven Distribution of the Factors of Production Different parts of the world have different climates, different soils and landforms, different bodies of water, and different mineral resources. These differences are not limited to natural resources. Different areas also have people with different training, education, and experiences as well.

The Uneven Distribution of the Factors of Production Ancient Egypt, for example, had many important mineral resources. These resources included copper, tin, gold, and iron. Egypt’s copper and tin were used to make bronze.

The Uneven Distribution of the Factors of Production Later, Egyptians used their iron ore to make iron tools and weapons. Gold was used for decoration and became a form of wealth. Other places in the Mediterranean region did not have the same mineral resources that Egypt possessed.

Specialization Even in ancient times, the uneven distribution of both natural and human resources around the world encouraged specialization. Specialization is the making of only some types of goods and services. Each region began making more of certain types of goods based on the productive resources it had available. These specialized products were then traded with others to obtain other goods.

Specialization For example, the ancient Greeks lived on rocky hillsides that received plenty of sunshine. They could grow grapes and olive trees, but not much wheat. They crushed their olives to produce olive oil for cooking, eating, and using as skin lotion; they crushed their grapes and turned the juice into wine.

Specialization The Greeks also became skilled at making clay pottery. The ancient Egyptians, on the other hand, lived along the banks of the Nile. They were able to grow wheat on the flat, fertile lands alongside the river.

Advantages to Specialization Economists see several important advantages to such specialization. Each region can take advantage of its own productive resources. A region may have fertile soil and a mild climate that is suitable for growing particular crops. By specializing in the production of these crops, farmers take advantage of these local characteristics.

Advantages to Specialization As a result, each region tends to produce those goods and services it can make at the lowest opportunity cost. It sacrifices less labor and time to make those goods than it would to make their other goods.

Advantages to Specialization By providing just a few kinds of goods or services, producers in a region become more skilled at making them. Producers also learn how to make these goods faster and more efficiently. For example, producers in a region might invest in special tools and training to produce these goods. This helps to lower production costs even further.

Trade Part 2

How Specialization Encourages Trade Because regions specialize, they rarely produce everything they need. Instead, different regions depend on one another to supply many goods and services. They exchange these goods and services Merchants bring goods from one place to another, and then sell them in markets. Countries and regions thus export products they make and import from others.

How Specialization Encourages Trade Imports Goods from foreign countries brought into a country for use or sale. Exports Goods and services sold from one country to other countries. There are many examples in history that illustrate how specialization leads to trade between regions.

How Specialization Encourages Trade- The Maya The ancient Maya, for example, inhabited the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. The salt beds that lined the coast of the Yucatan provided salt to the Maya. Salt is an important ingredient in the human diet. In addition to salt, the Maya had obsidian (volcanic glass), cacao, seashells, and pottery.

How Specialization Encourages Trade- The Maya They exported these goods to their neighbors in the central lowlands of Guatemala. The city-states of Tikal and Copan served as major trading centers. In return, these Guatemalan city-states gave the Mayan their turquoise, jade, and quetzal (bird) feathers--- goods greatly valued by the Maya as symbols of wealth and status.

How Specialization Encourages Trade- Ancient Egypt and Greece Because the Egyptians could grow large amounts of wheat, they could exchange their surplus grain with other Mediterranean peoples, such as the Greeks, for olives, wine, and pottery. It was easier for the Greeks to exchange their olives, wine and pottery for Egyptian grain than it was for them to grow their own wheat on the rocky hillsides of Greece. It was also possible for these peoples to ship their products easily, since they could be carried by boat across the Mediterranean Sea

How Specialization Encourages Trade- Roman Empire The ancient Romans also engaged in extensive trade. Like the Greeks, the Romans shipped goods across the Mediterranean . They exported olive oil and wine from the hillsides of Italy. Sicily and North Africa grew wheat, which was shipped to Rome.

How Specialization Encourages Trade- Roman Empire Romans also obtained marble from Greece, gold and silver from Spain, and iron from Britain. The Romans even traded along overland routes across the steppes, deserts, and mountains of Central Asia in order to obtain cotton and spices from India and silk from Han China.

The Effects of World Trade The need to exchange goods led to the development of trade and distinct trade patterns between peoples very early in human history.

Trade Routes Because of geographical factors, trade has often proceed along certain fixed routes--- usually along rivers, across seas, and through valleys and plains. In contrast, mountains, deserts, and dense forests often act as barriers to trade.

Trade Routes Trade routes usually connect places with different resources or center of population. The Mediterranean Sea and the Silk Road across central Asia are two examples of trade routes Later, the Atlantic Ocean provided routes linking , Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

Trade Routes Merchants are people who buy goods to sell to others at a higher price. They risk their money to order goods they think others may want. Merchants often pay to ship goods along trade routes from one place to another in order to sell these goods at a higher price.

The Growth of Cities The establishment of specific trade routes has often led to the growth and development of cities. Cities arise where goods are sold or where goods are unloaded to be placed onto a different type of transportation.

The Growth of Cities- Examples Alexandria Located where the Nile River flows into the Mediterranean Sea, became an important Egyptian port. Merchants gathered to trade goods with merchants arriving from other places around the Mediterranean. They traded spices, textiles (cloth and clothing), silver, gold, and foods. Because merchants living in Alexandria needed food, clothing, homes and other goods, they provided work to local craftsmen. This encouraged the city to grow.

The Growth of Cities- Constantinople Another famous city that developed along trade routes. Located on the Black Sea, where Europe meets Asia. Traders between these two continents crossed through this city. Here, merchants exchanged European goods for Chinese silks and Asian spices.

The Growth of Cities- Venice Like other cities in Italy, Venice was situated along major trade routes for East-West trade. During the Crusades, merchants in Venice built large fleets to carry Crusaders to the Holy Land. These same fleets were later used to open new markets in the Middle East.

The Growth of Cities- Timbuktu Arose in West Africa north of the Niger River, on the southern edge of the Sahara. The city was an important center for the gold-salt trade. Arab traders crossed the desert to bring salt, cloth and horses. In exchange, they received gold and slaves. Under Mansa Musa, the city became a center of learning.

The Growth of Cities- European Colonial Empires and Trade After the European conquest of the Americas, trade routes shifted and cities closer to the Atlantic grew. Several countries established colonies in the “New World.” Spain, Portugal, Holland, France, and Britain are located in the western end of Europe and benefited from the rise in Atlantic trade.

The Growth of Cities- European Colonial Empires and Trade Cities like Lisbon in Portugal, Seville in Spain, and Amsterdam in Holland grew quickly. Merchants exchanged slaves from Africa, precious metals (silver and gold) from Mexico, sugar cane, fur, tobacco, rice and indigo (a blue dye), from the Americas, and furniture, clothes, and foodstuffs from Europe.

Interdependence Part 3

The Interdependence of Regions Over time, specialization and trade have made different regions of the world increasingly interdependent. Regions become interdependent when they depend on each other to obtain goods and services to meet their economic needs.

The Interdependence of Regions In ancient times, areas bordering the Mediterranean grew interdependent through trade. Under Roman rule, goods were shipped back and forth across the Mediterranean or carried to different parts of the empire along roads built by the Romans. After the fall of Rome, long-distance trade declined.

The Interdependence of Regions By the end of the Middle Ages, trade had revived and goods from the Middle East, India, and China found their way into the fairs and markets of Europe.

The Interdependence of Regions In 1492, the European encounter with the Americas greatly stimulated the rise of long-distance trade, specialization, and the interdependence of regions. New food products like the potato spread from its origins in the Andes Mtns. across the ocean to Portugal and Spain. From there, the potato spread to other countries in Europe, and finally, to all regions and continents.

The Interdependence of Regions Sugar provides another important example of the interdependence of regions. Most sugar is produced from sugar cane--- a plant that only grows in warm, humid, climates. Sugar cane was first grown in India. From there it spread to the Mediterranean.

The Interdependence of Regions After the conquest of the Americas, Europeans set up sugar plantations in the West Indies and South America. Enslaved Africans were sent to the Americas to work on these plantations

The Interdependence of Regions In the 1500’s, sugar was still a luxury good consumed only by kings. By 1700, it had become a widespread household good, sold in street markets. The production of such large quantities of sugar only became possible because of specialization and trade.

The Interdependence of Regions- Triangular Trade Plantations in the Caribbean grew sugar cane for export. European ships carried this sugar to Europe. Meanwhile, foods from the English colonies in North America were sent to workers on the plantations

The Interdependence of Regions- Triangular Trade Enslaved Africans were shipped across the Atlantic to provide an unending supply of labor. The plantation owners imported furniture and clothes from Europe in exchange for the sugar. To produce large quantities of sugar, these different regions of the world had thus grown highly interdependent.

Triangular Trade