Kaitlyn Nelson
History 101
Dr. Stephen Jackson
8 November 2018
The “Shape” of the World
During the 17th and 18th centuries, Europe had tremendous global interactions that shaped its own history as well as the rest of the world. Countries within Europe had a fierce competition for power and wealth, so they made global interactions that not only broadened trade routes, but influenced the rest of the world in a variety of ways. As European countries like Britain, France and, the Netherlands ventured out of their territory, they came across other lands and cultures that would have a tremendous effect on Europe’s worldview. The subsequent trading of ideas, goods, and cultures would change the world, including Europe itself.
Before branching out to the rest of the world, Europe needed stability after a long term war. The Peace of Westphalia was a treaty that ended the Thirty Years’ War in 1648. This incredibly complicated document was the emergence of a new modern state system and designed to promote international stability for all of Europe. States were no longer under the control of Monarchs, but instead by public government without interference from outside countries or sources. From this new system, a few states rose to power to take advantage of international trade. This included the Netherlands, Britain, and France; These powerful countries were now at an advantage for global trade, yet had to compete with each other.
Founded in 1602, the VOC, or Dutch East India Company, was extremely influential in colonization, trade, and exploration within southeast Asia. It was the world’s first joint- stock company that in the beginning was something momentous, but grew to be so much more. Due to their rapid growth, they became a major power in terms of wealth, military strength, and political influence. Asia was affected by this in a number of ways. To begin with, European technology, such as advanced weaponry and shipping, made it relatively easy for them to assert control over the native population. The VOC held dominance over what is modern day Indonesia and it was easy for the Dutch to force their trade systems upon the native populations. However, the VOC used a monopoly policy on spice trade, which angered the inhabitants and started a few conflicts between the different groups. Much of the trading at the time was done between multiple ports, kingdoms, and traders. In general, the VOC affected Asia by bringing European goods, policies, and influence to their underdeveloped world.
Southeast Asia was not the only area outside of Europe to be affected. The Americas and Africa were also vastly altered by European contact. One of the greatest impacts on these two countries was the Atlantic Slave Trade with the peak of trading being from 1650-1800. There was high demand for tobacco products in Europe, so the cultivation of tobacco became increasingly important in America. Tobacco farmers needed more labor than their family could do on their own. The solution to this was slaves; tobacco was a crop that would make a profit for Europe while Africa supplied the labor for it. Slavery is commonly seen as the event that strengthened and normalized racism.
Another import that influenced European lives socially and financially was sugar. Sugar mills were being built all over the Caribbean islands and Brazil in order to meet the demand of European countries. Some slaves were servants or blacksmiths, but a vast majority worked on sugar plantations. The conditions they were forced to work in was rough and the process to harvest sugar was labor intensive. The lifespan of a slave on a sugar plantation in the Caribbean or Brazil was an average of seven years. Although the Americas were changed due to European influence, European society was consequently altered. Before mass production of sugar and tobacco, they were scarcely used in Europe. However, with the various trading companies’ expansion of tobacco crops and sugar mills, they became very popular in all levels of society.
The world was heavily influenced by European interactions in the 17th and 18th century, but it was not a one sided exchange. Through its trading, expansion, and colonization, Europe was being shaped by the rest of the world as well. Companies such as the VOC brought new polices and technology to southeast Asia. Also, the battle for tobacco and sugar production between countries brought many changes to both the outside world and Europe. The subsequent trading of ideas, goods, and cultures would change the world, including Europe, forever.