Wed, Dec 31, 2008
Dreaming of world dominance and boundless riches drove the Portuguese and the Spanish, having completed the Reconquista (Catholicism chasing Moors and Jews from Iberia), to naval exploration and 'missionary' Conquista, South and East viz. West - Columbus discovering America, while maintaining it was the East, not the thus misnamed West Indies. They soon divide the world in two spheres by the Tordelissas treaty. Spain's Cortez and Pizarro find immense riches by ravaging the Aztec viz. Inca empires. Portugal trades with the East but finds the greatest treasure in Brazilian gold and intercontinental slave trade. However neglecting inflationary stress, trade control, home industries and state finances ultimately leave both countries ruined rather then enriched.
Sat, Jan 3, 2009
After the Iberian colonization made its Catholic Habsburg dynasty Nemesis rich and mighty, the Calvinistic Republic of the United provinces challenged it for the very control of the spice trade. Not the politically weak federal state, but a state within the state - the United East Indies Company (VOIC in Dutch, founded 1602), centered in new port-&exchange-metropolis Amsterdam, albeit with several regional branches. It had its own fleet and army, and colonized huge territories, mainly present Indonesia, under indirect rule ('protection' treaties). The crown jewel was a monopoly on the unique (till a French theft after 1800) muscat nut culture of the Moluccas, maintained by ruthless repression, such as the sack of Bandar after a British competition-inspired revolt, followed by the introduction of slavery. At home the fabulous profits mainly enriched the 'regent' families, bourgeois patrons of the arts (Rembrandt!) in an aristocratic age. The second pillar was the West Indies Company, whose American empire (founding New York as New Amsterdam) was soon overpowered by the British, who would overtake overall trade and financial dominance. World-scene wars and the Krakatau volcanic eruption broke the eastern empire after the Dutch state replaced the failed post-monopoly VOIC as colonizer.
Sat, Jan 10, 2009
The British Isles seemed unlikely to rise from relatively side-tracked feudal kingdom to dominant world power in the Victorian age, putting an Anglo-Saxon stamp on our world. The key was its natural calling to the sea, the decisive theater of international politics, especially after the defeat of the Spanish Armada. The British Isles won the race for trade routes (especially the triangular: slaves, bullion and various colonial wares) and colonies (mainly the East Indies, Northern America and bases along the routes thereto). This was largely due to the Admiralty's superior technological (arms, navigation...) and logistic performance and the crown-licensed buccaneers, later chartered companies, especially the East Indies Company. Numerous other factors contributed, such as opportunities for religious outlaws, indirect rule through 'protected' local princes in allegiance to the British crown (relatively successful, with few colonial staff and revolts) and the beneficial effects of spreading modern technology, medicine etc. The Royal Navy also defeated Napoleon, Britain's most dangerous global challenger, under lord Horatio Nelson.