The Dutch, British, and French Impact
The Spanish and Portuguese reign soon came to an end as the northern European
countries took over their power and established their own empires in the seventeenth century which had an impact on many nations.
countries took over their power and established their own empires in the seventeenth century which had an impact on many nations.
Africa- “The Dutch seized a number of Portuguese forts along the West African coast and at the same time took control of much of the Portuguese trade across the Indian Ocean.” They developed a trading company, the Dutch East India Company, and created a permanent colony in South Africa. In 1619, they established themselves on the island of Java, which became center of power of the Dutch East Indies.
Southeast Asia- The Europeans had less impact on Southeast Asia. “The mainland states in Burma, Thailand, and Vietnam had begun to define themselves as distinct political entities." At the end of the sixteenth century, the British, Dutch, French, and Portuguese were all competing for trading privileges in India. The British established trading posts at Surat (a thriving port in the northwestern coast), Fort William, and Madras (southeastern coast) by 1650. The Dutch abandoned competition and although the French were strong, the British defeated them with “an aggressive British empire-builder, Sir Robert Clive.”
China- In 1699, England, the dominant force in European trade, established their first trading post at Canton in China. Trade between these two nations increased rapidly with the export of tea and silks over the next decades.
Japan- In 1543, the Portuguese landed on the islands of Japan and a few years later they arrived regularly for a regional trade network. They were welcomed because of their European goods like tobacco, clocks, eyeglasses, and weapons. However, because of missionaries who were converting the local population to Christianity, they were expelled by the Japanese general, Japanese Christians were persecuted, European merchants were banned, and the “two major foreign trading posts on the island of Hirado and Nagasaki” were closed. However, the Dutch did not allow missionary activity to interfere with their trade interests so they were allowed to stay, but the conditions were strict.
Southeast Asia- The Europeans had less impact on Southeast Asia. “The mainland states in Burma, Thailand, and Vietnam had begun to define themselves as distinct political entities." At the end of the sixteenth century, the British, Dutch, French, and Portuguese were all competing for trading privileges in India. The British established trading posts at Surat (a thriving port in the northwestern coast), Fort William, and Madras (southeastern coast) by 1650. The Dutch abandoned competition and although the French were strong, the British defeated them with “an aggressive British empire-builder, Sir Robert Clive.”
China- In 1699, England, the dominant force in European trade, established their first trading post at Canton in China. Trade between these two nations increased rapidly with the export of tea and silks over the next decades.
Japan- In 1543, the Portuguese landed on the islands of Japan and a few years later they arrived regularly for a regional trade network. They were welcomed because of their European goods like tobacco, clocks, eyeglasses, and weapons. However, because of missionaries who were converting the local population to Christianity, they were expelled by the Japanese general, Japanese Christians were persecuted, European merchants were banned, and the “two major foreign trading posts on the island of Hirado and Nagasaki” were closed. However, the Dutch did not allow missionary activity to interfere with their trade interests so they were allowed to stay, but the conditions were strict.