Pre - Colonial Southeast Asia Part II: Trade 1450 - 1680

Pre - Colonial Southeast Asia

Part II: Trade

1450 - 1680

High Value Spices• Pepper - Malabar • Clove - Moluccas

• Nutmeg – Banda

Other Trade • Sugar• Benzoin• Deer Skins• Sappanwood• Sandalwood• Musk• Camphor• Lacquer

• Cotton• Silver• Currency• Later

– Tin

– Rubber

– Coffee

– Oil

Entrepots

Convenient third country ports serving as point of exchange.

– Malacca– Manila– Fai Fo/Hoi An

Cycle of Trade

• The cycle of trade was dictated by the monsoon winds.

– April – August: Winds from the Southwest toward Asian mainland.

– December - March: Winds from the Northeast toward the Indian Ocean.

Shipping• The prahu was the principal local trade vehicle.

– Constructed using dowels and joinery; no nails.– Pointed stem and stern, oarlock quarter rudders & latten

rigged triangular sails.– Carried 4 to 40 tons.

• Enlarged to become SEAsian junk in 1500s.– Three masts; square rigged.– Iron nails and clamps supplemented dowels and joinery.– Average capacity 400 – 500 tons; max of 1,000 tons.

Prahu/Prau

Chinese Junk

Navigation• Sailing with reference

to shore line.• Compass.• Knowledge of winds

and currents.• Rutters• Early maps and charts

Inland Transportation• Rivers used extensively for inland transportation.

– Chao Phraya, Mekong & Irrawaddy

• Cities frequently built where rivers ceased to be navigable.– Mekong: Pnompenh, Savannakhet &Vientiane– Chao Phraya: Ayutthaya and Bangkok– Cape Fear: Fayetteville.

• Overland transportation was extremely difficult.– Condition of roads and bridges; Banditry– Ox carts and pack animals

Cities• Growth of cities tied to trade boom.• Cities frequently followed Chinese checker board

pattern. – Surrounded by walls and gates & oriented South.

– Center reserved for harem, retainers, horses & elephants.

– Major streets were 20-30 ft. wide, paved & ran in straight lines across the city.

• Wood construction meant fire was a serious threat.

Orangkaya• Commonly defined as “rich man.”• Applied to indigenous aristocracy, merchant elite,

foreign merchants, descendents of foreign merchants & merchant-officials.

• Functioned under local ruler’s patronage.• Status marked by elaborate attire and a retinue of

at least one slave to carry his sword and attend his needs.

• A high degree of social mobility existed.

Chinese Influence• Impact of Mongol Yuan and Ming expeditions,

e.g., Cheng Ho.• Tribute system.

– Pilgrimage to Chinese capital-Peking/Nanking.

– Audience and confirmation of rulers status.

– Awarded badges of office: official seal and yellow umbrella.

– Privilege of trade.

• Major beneficiaries: Ayutthaya and Malacca

European Impact• Begins with Portuguese in 1509.• Waning of Chinese interest and influence.• Proliferation of trade and ports.

– Pegu– Arakan– Luang Prabang, Vientiane & Nakhon Phanom in Laos.– Hoi An– Patani– Aceh– Banten– Makassar– Jambi & Palembang

Questions• What dictated the cycle of trade?• What was the name given to local sailing vessels?• Which was considered better: land or water

transportation? Why?• What title was given to wealthy local traders?• Who was Cheng Ho? • The impact of European discovery occurred just as

the influence of the what country began to fade?• What was the principal stimulus for the growth of

cities?

More Questions• Navigation was accomplished by reference

to the shore (when possible) and sailing instructions called ______.

• What were the major spices sought by European traders?

• How were traditional prahus held together? • What factors favored the construction of

port cities inland on major rivers?

The End