Asian+Transitions

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 * 1. Notes on p. 482-491**
 * 1) **Introduction**
 * After De Gama's arrival at Calicut, Europeans and their esteem **caravel** ships returned with hopes to convert the populace. Unfortunately, the Muslims found out about the European intrusion and it became apparent only military force could allow them entry into the Indian trading system.
 * The theme of Chinese history during the 16th and 17th century was disconnected by European presence. Rulers, merchants, and religious leaders refused to acknowledge them.
 * 1) **The Asian Trading World and the Coming of the Europeans**
 * The Indian Ocean is divided into three zones that consists of pre-established coasting maritime trade routes. For the Europeans, control of the famed wealths of the Indies is the greatest victory in the terms of mercantilism and two weaknesses allowed Europeans to dominate.
 * **Asian sea trading network** was divided to the Arab Zone, Indian Zone, and Chinese Zone
 * 1) Arab zone
 * Middle East: glass, carpets, tapestry, horses
 * East Africa: ivory, forest products, animal hides, gold slaves
 * Mediterranean: slaves, gold, glassware, forest products
 * 1) Indian Zone
 * Cotton textiles, gems, elephants, salt, cinnamon from **Ceylon**
 * 1) Chinese Zone
 * China: paper, porcelain, silk textiles
 * Japan: silver
 * Indonesian Archipelago: spices
 * Bulk items like rice, livestock, timber were inter-exchanged between ports
 * Much of the navigation was done by **coasting**, measuring distance from landmarks
 * Done because of established trade routes and unpredictable monsoon winds and the level of maritime tech.
 * The Chinese junks and Arab galley fleets did not brave the open seas
 * Junctures were the mouths of the Persian Gulf and Red Sea and the Straits of Malacca
 * Two characteristics allowed for European dominance:
 * 1) Lack of central control or common cause
 * 2) Lack of military presence, thus weakly armed ships
 * 1) **Trading Empire: The Portuguese Response to the Encounter at Calicut**
 * The Portuguese, instead of trading gold and silver for commodities, decided to conquer the areas involved with the trading network. Due to the advanced technology of the Portuguese, they were able to defeat their enemies and monopolize the spice trades.
 * The Portuguese, unwilling to forfeit specie, the measure of wealth according to mercantilists, decided to take what they couldn't get via fair trade through military action since only the Chinese had the naval efficiency to defeat the caravel fleets
 * De Gama's second expedition 1502 onward can be marked with forcing ports into a Portuguese tribute system, sea-land assaults, and the defeat of an Egyptian-Indian fleet at Diu in 1509
 * Once sea patrols and raids proved inefficient, the Portuguese from 1507 onward started to capture strategic ports such as **Ormuz** in 1507, **Goa** in 1510 and Malacca.
 * They were naval bases and **//factories//**, storage houses for the raw goods such as spices
 * Funded and directed by the crown
 * Attempted to, with little success, to impose a licensing system
 * 1) **Portuguese Vulnerability and Rise of the Dutch and English Trading Empires**
 * Due to lack of manpower, the Portuguese monopolies declined and were eclipsed by the stronger naval powers, Netherlands and Britain. Effectively, the Dutch controlled Chinese Zone and the British dominated the Indian Zone.
 * The Portuguese monopoly fell apart since it lacked the military force to enforce its policies and maintain its monopolies
 * Above that, corruption, resistance, and significant losses due to poor planning led to decline
 * The Dutch war fleets captured Malacca and established **Batavia** on Java in 1620
 * Monopolized the Spice Islands and forced the British to India
 * The **Dutch East India Co.** had the same functions of the Portuguese trading empire except it had more muscle and a more systematic process
 * The Dutch, since the price of their spices declined, focused on peaceful trading, depending on revenues created by transporting goods and trading goods in Asia to sell in Europe
 * Adopted by the British, only focused in India
 * 1) **Going Ashore: European Tribute Systems in Asia**
 * Wherever the Europeans conquered, a tribute system was established. Even though Europeans could not defeat the numbers of the Asians away from their factories, the Europeans were able to create a presence for themselves. Regarding the lives of the conquered, their lives went w/o interference so long that people made their tributes.
 * Due to the numbers of the Asians, Dutch and English forces had to submit to the inland rulers
 * In some cases, like Java, European forces did not have to subordinate themselves. Rather, they became the paramount power.
 * The Spanish decided to conquer the Philippines as permitted by the Treaty of Versailles
 * Began conquests in the 1560s at **Luzon** and saw success in the many small states, but failed to conquer **Mindanao**, a Muslim state
 * Wherever Europeans went, a tribute system like that in Latin America was established
 * Little interference in daily life if tributes of agricultural produce were met
 * 1) **Spreading the Faith: The Missionary Enterprise in the South and Southeast Asia**
 * Missions were a focal point of colonization in the Asian areas.
 * The Dutch and English were not as dedicated missionaries as the Portuguese or Spanish
 * Missionary attempts were hindered by the introduction of Islam centuries prior and the indoctrination of Hinduism
 * Success could be found among the lowest castes by Dominicans, Franciscans, and Jesuits like **Francis Xavier** whom converted thousands of people from the 1540s onward
 * Jesuit **Robert di Nobili** devised a strategy in the early 1600s in which missionaries would assimilate a brahman persona
 * Defeated in that upper castes refused to give up their traditions and worship alongside lower castes
 * Defeated by rival Dominicans and Franciscans whose complaints had de Nobili recalled to Rome
 * Greatest missionary success can be seen in Philippines by **friars**
 * Beliefs were not translated into vernacular tongues, thus the Christianity here was a fusion of beliefs and world religion
 * All Filippinos refused to surrender their traditions


 * 2. T-chart on Chinese and Japan Responses**
 * Chinese || Japanese ||
 * * Adoption of maize, sweet potatoes, and peanuts as vital diet supplements
 * Traded for specie
 * Tried to limit missionary contact with the imperial family
 * Scholar-gentry was hostile to the Jesuits || * Adopted firearms and developed it
 * Militant Buddhist sects resisted Christian missions
 * Nobunga was very supportive of the Jesuits
 * Hideyoshi was the opposite ||