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Essay On Silver Trade Dbq

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During the mid-sixteenth century to the early eighteenth century, the increased flow of silver worldwide influenced social and economic changes in all lands linked by trade. The flow of silver had beneficial effects such as the increase in contribution of nations in global trade and greater economic opportunities. However, it also had detrimental effects such as forced labor, and divisions between social classes.
Although the large increase of silver flow into China was beneficial, it created harmful effects. The Chinese government during the 1570s required all domestic taxes and trade fees to be paid in silver; however, the increased flow of silver aided the people of China in following this rule set out by the Chinese government. As a Ming …show more content…

For example, Spain was one of the most prominent contributor to the silver trade because it had many colonies and was a mercantilist economy. The Spanish had the quinto system where one-fifth of the silver collected in the colonies would directly go to Spain, the other four-fifths of the money would be used in trade. However, Tomás de Mercado, a Spanish Scholar, states the fact that Asian commodities had a high price (Doc 2). This resulted in all the silver to flow to Asia instead of Spain holding onto it. Additionally, although the flow of silver into Asia was hurting the Spanish and the European economy, they still continued to trade with the Asians (Doc 8). Charles D’Avenant, an English scholar, states that Europeans cannot stop trading their silver that lasts for Asian goods that are temporary as they have already gotten a taste of the luxury. He also states that it is a social issue as people of all degrees feel the need to buy Asian goods, no matter how expensive. The Europeans have too high of a demand for Asian commodities to stop the flow of silver into Asia. Furthermore, Antonio Vázqez de Espinosa, a Spanish priest concerned with the Spanish invasion of the Native American society (Doc 6). The Spanish authorities set up the mita system for the Native Americans where one-seventh of the men in the native village population were sent to work in the silver mines of Potosí. This shows the negative effect of the silver trade as it describes the horrible conditions that the Native Americans face while working in the mines. This is comparable to the encomienda system around the same timeline. The Spanish started settling in Southern America and began pursuing profitable plantation (sugar) and mining business; however they needed a labor force. In the encomienda system, the Spanish were given the right to force the Native Americans to work on their plantations and

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