How did Spain and Portugal's actions in the 16th century help develop a
economy?
rebelling against
connected the entire world for the first time in history. Peru was a Spanish
Spanish rule and at this time, the Netherlands were at war with Spain. Europeans knew about Japan, how
to get there and what kind of merchandise might be valuable to trade in Japan and the Japanese emperor
wanted to trade with Europe.
Vasco a Portuguese sailor, navigated around the south coast of Africa and sailed to the Indian city of
Calicut in 1498. Portugal did not try to actively. extensive territory. Instead the Portuguese found
existing trading centers, like Calicut, and set up trading posts in those trade networks, expanding their
trading post empire in the Indian Ocean and the East China granted the Portuguese the right to
trade from the island of Macau in 1542.
That same year, Spain created the Viceroyalty of Peru to rule over Peru. In these Spanish viceroyalties,
were one major source of wealth. The other major source of wealth in the Americas became
after the Spanish found giant deposits of. at Zacatecas in modern day Mexico and at Potosi in
modern day Bolivia in the mid 1540s. This has two significant implications on the global economy.
The first impact was on labor in the Americas. Maintaining and operating plantations and mines was
brutal hard
work, often killing the workers. For more labor, they turned to Africa for.
West Africa more in the trading relationships with the Spanish and Portuguese.
labor, involving
West Africa had been a trading area for the Portuguese and for the Spanish, especially for things like gold,
but now West Africa became a place where the Spanish
and th
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Exploration and Trade Expansion: Both Spain and Portugal embarked on ambitious exploration ventures, seeking new trade routes and markets. Portuguese sailors like Vasco da Gama pioneered sea routes to Asia, opening up lucrative trade with regions like India and China. Spanish explorers, including Christopher Columbus and Ferdinand Magellan, discovered the Americas, leading to the establishment of colonies and trade networks that brought valuable resources like gold, silver, and agricultural products to Europe.

Creation of Trade Networks: Portugal's establishment of trading posts in strategic locations such as Calicut and Macau, and Spain's colonization of territories in the Americas, facilitated the exchange of goods and resources between different parts of the world. These networks connected Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas, enabling the flow of commodities, technology, and culture on a global scale.

Exploitation of Resources: The discovery of vast reserves of precious metals in the Americas, particularly in regions like Potosi and Zacatecas, had profound effects on the global economy. The influx of gold and silver from Spanish colonies fueled inflation in Europe, but it also stimulated economic growth and investment in various sectors such as trade, manufacturing, and finance.

Labor Force Expansion: The intensive labor required for plantation agriculture and mining in the Americas led to the widespread use of coerced labor systems, including African slavery. The transatlantic slave trade, facilitated by Portuguese and Spanish merchants, brought millions of enslaved Africans to the Americas to meet the growing demand for labor, particularly in industries like sugar, tobacco, and mining.

Overall, Spain and Portugal's activities during the 16th century played a crucial role in shaping the modern global economy by connecting distant regions, exploiting natural resources, and facilitating the exchange of goods and labor on an unprecedented scale.

Explanation: Certainly! Let's break down how Spain and Portugal's actions in the 16th century contributed to the development of the global economy:

Exploration and Trade Expansion: Portugal, under the leadership of explorers like Vasco da Gama, discovered new sea routes to Asia. This opened up direct trade with regions like India and China, bypassing traditional overland routes controlled by Middle Eastern and Mediterranean powers. Meanwhile, Spain's explorers, such as Christopher Columbus and Ferdinand Magellan, voyaged across the Atlantic Ocean, discovering the Americas. These explorations led to the establishment of colonies and trade networks, connecting distant parts of the world and facilitating the exchange of goods and ideas.

Creation of Trade Networks: Portugal's establishment of trading posts, like those in Calicut and Macau, created networks that linked Europe, Asia, and Africa. Similarly, Spain's colonization of territories in the Americas created a vast trade network that connected the New World with Europe. These networks facilitated the exchange of commodities such as spices, textiles, precious metals, and agricultural products, enriching all parties involved and stimulating economic growth.

Exploitation of Resources: The discovery of abundant reserves of precious metals, particularly gold and silver, in the Americas had significant effects on the global economy. Spain, in particular, extracted vast quantities of gold and silver from colonies like Peru and Mexico. This influx of precious metals led to inflation in Europe but also stimulated economic activity by financing trade, investment, and imperial expansion. The flow of wealth from the Americas to Europe contributed to the rise of capitalism and the growth of global trade.

Labor Force Expansion: The labor-intensive industries of plantation agriculture and mining in the Americas required a large workforce. To meet this demand, Spain and Portugal turned to coerced labor systems, including African slavery. The transatlantic slave trade, facilitated by Portuguese and Spanish merchants, forcibly transported millions of Africans to the Americas. This system of exploitation provided the labor necessary for the production of cash crops like sugar, tobacco, and cotton, as well as for mining operations.

In summary, Spain and Portugal's actions in the 16th century transformed the global economy by expanding trade networks, exploiting new resources, and establishing labor systems that facilitated the exchange of goods and labor on an unprecedented scale. These developments laid the foundation for the emergence of the modern global economy and shaped the course of world history for centuries to come.