trade

Triangular Trade

  • Definition: A historical trade system that involved three regions: Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

  • Main Products Traded:

    • Sugarcane

    • Timber

    • Indigo

  • Key Elements:

    • Enslaved Africans captured and transported through the Middle Passage.

    • Various goods such as rum, sugar, and other commodities were traded.

    • European countries such as Britain played significant roles.

Historical Background

  • Transatlantic Trade in Enslaved Africans:

    • A crucial component of the triangular trade, involving the forced transport of Africans to the Americas.

    • The Middle Passage: A horrific journey with high mortality rates.

Specific Historical Figures

  • Admiral Menendez de Aviles:

    • Spanish navigator known for defending Spanish territories in America.

    • Notable for maintaining Spanish areas such as Hispaniola.

  • Sir Francis Drake:

    • English explorer and adventurer.

    • Attacked Nombre de Dios, a Spanish settlement.

    • Sought treasures like gold and precious stones.

  • Sir Walter Raleigh:

    • Searched for El Dorado, the fabled city of gold.

    • Discovered the Pitch Lake in Trinidad (La Brea), known for its natural asphalt.

    • He achieved knighthood for his accomplishments in Trinidad.

  • Thomas Warner:

    • An English explorer who discovered St. Kitts.

    • Served as the first governor from 1627 to 1649.

    • Engaged in tobacco trade, which increased demand in England.

Colonial Developments

  • Proprietor Government (1627):

    • The first colonial government established.

    • Payment of £100 per annum to the crown for governance rights.

  • Royal Government (1660):

    • Shifted to a royal government structure.

    • All profits went to the crown.

    • Promoted trade in commodities like tobacco and sugarcane.

  • Council of Trade and Plantations:

    • Established by the crown in the 17th century.

    • Tasked with overseeing colonial trade.

Economic Theories

  • Mercantilism:

    • An economic theory that restricts trade between a mother country and its colonies.

    • Emphasizes exporting more than importing to accumulate wealth.

Geography of the Caribbean

  • Countries/Islands Mentioned:

    • Jamaica, St. Christopher (St. Kitts), Antigua, Barbados, Nevis.

  • Colonial Impacts:

    • The strategic location of islands made them valuable for producing goods like sugar.

    • The British sought to establish their control, which often resulted in conflict with other colonial powers.

Key Events and Agreements

  • The Treaty of Tordesillas:

    • Made by Pope Alexander VI, dividing new territories between Spain and Portugal.

    • Intended to regulate claims to newly discovered lands.

Notable Discussions

  • Ownership of Jamaica:

    • The Spanish believed they rightfully owned Jamaica based on treaties.

    • Arguments state indigenous people were using the land before European colonization.

Leadership Comparisons

  • Moctezuma I vs. Atahualpa:

    • Moctezuma I, a respected Aztec leader known for his military skill and care for his people.

    • Atahualpa, noted for his acts of violence against his own family and disrespect towards other religions.

    • Moctezuma is viewed as the more effective leader.

Clinical Observations

  • Colonial Challenges:

    • Despite their military advantages, the English faced significant challenges, including:

    • Attacks from indigenous groups.

    • Pushbacks from Spain.

    • Diseases such as yellow fever affected colonial initiatives.

  • Success Factors for Colonization:

    • Manpower and a robust navy facilitated English efforts to control the Caribbean.