How did the Europeans establish and maintain their trading empires with Asia?
? idk help
Europeans have been trading with Asians for thousands of years. To which particular time are you referring?
1450-1750 C.E
With the Asian Trading Network.
The sea routes -- first around the southern tip of Africa -- and then around South America -- maintained the trade between Europe and Asia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperialism_in_Asia
To understand how Europeans established and maintained their trading empires with Asia, we need to look into a few key factors and events. Here's a step-by-step explanation:
1. Exploration and Discoveries: In the late 15th century, European powers, such as Portugal and Spain, initiated an era of exploration. They ventured into unknown territories, searching for new trade routes to Asia. Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama successfully sailed around Africa, reaching India in 1498.
2. Control of Sea Routes: European powers aimed to control the sea routes to Asia to bypass overland trade routes controlled by the Ottoman Empire. They established fortified trading posts, called "factories," along the coasts of Africa, India, and Southeast Asia.
3. Establishment of Trading Companies: European nations established powerful trading companies to facilitate their commercial activities in Asia. The most significant ones were the Portuguese Estado da Índia, the Dutch East India Company, and the British East India Company. These companies were granted monopolies over trade and had their own armies and administrative systems.
4. Economic Interests: European powers sought valuable resources such as spices, silk, tea, porcelain, and precious metals from Asia. The demand for these goods was high in Europe, prompting the establishment of trading empires to secure and control the supply.
5. Military Superiority: The Europeans possessed technological advantages over Asian powers, allowing them to exert dominance. Superior naval capabilities, advanced weaponry, and organizational skills enabled them to protect and expand their trading empires.
6. Diplomatic Alliances: Europeans sought diplomatic alliances and established treaties with Asian rulers, often exploiting local conflicts and rivalries to acquire favorable economic and political conditions. They provided military aid to rulers willing to cooperate, strengthening their positions in the region.
7. Colonial Control: Over time, European trading empires evolved into colonial control, where territories were directly governed by European powers. This transition occurred mainly in the 19th century and resulted in a substantial increase in European influence and control over Asian territories.
In summary, Europeans established and maintained their trading empires with Asia through exploration, control of sea routes, the establishment of trading companies, economic interests, military superiority, diplomatic alliances, and eventual colonial control. Understanding these historical developments helps us grasp how these trading empires were established and sustained.