how was Portuguese trade in Indian different from that in the Americas? (1 point)
The Portuguese trade in Indian was different from that in the Americas in several ways:
1. Motivation: The Portuguese were primarily driven by the desire to establish direct trade routes with India and access its lucrative spice trade. In the Americas, their main objective was to colonize and exploit the newly discovered territories for resources like gold, silver, and agricultural products.
2. Control: In India, the Portuguese had to contend with already established regional powers, such as the Mughal Empire, and had to rely on establishing commercial treaties and gaining the favor of local rulers to gain access to the spice trade. In the Americas, they encountered indigenous populations, but due to their military superiority, they were able to establish colonies and exercise significant control over the territories.
3. Trade goods: In Indian trade, the Portuguese were mainly interested in spices like pepper, cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg. They also traded other goods like textiles, precious stones, and indigo. In the Americas, they primarily sought gold, silver, agricultural products (such as sugarcane and tobacco), and other valuable resources from the New World.
4. Labor force: In the Americas, the Portuguese relied heavily on the use of enslaved indigenous people and later African slaves to work in mines, plantations, and other labor-intensive industries. In India, the Portuguese mainly focused on establishing trading posts and maritime routes, rather than engaging in large-scale colonization or slave-based labor.
5. Cultural impact: The Portuguese influence in India was primarily limited to trade, with relatively fewer attempts at cultural assimilation or religious conversion. In the Americas, the Portuguese (as well as the Spanish) had a significant impact on the indigenous population through forced conversions to Christianity, cultural assimilation, and the introduction of European diseases that decimated native populations.