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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