Southeast Asian Trade: 1450-1914

Thesis: The Southeast Asian economy changed greatly and also had continuity during the period of 1450-1914. A major economic change that happened in Southeast Asia during this time period was the major imperial countries that controlled the economy. A factor that stayed the same for the Southeast Asian economy was that the economy stayed strong during this time period.

During the time period of 1450-1914 Southeast Asian economy went through dramatic changes in that the countries that controlled the trade and economy of Southeast Asia changed a few times. For example, the Portuguese were the first to arrive in Southeast Asia and take control of the economy. The Portuguese dominated the spice trade of the Moluccas and Java and the trade routes around India. The Spanish were also interested in the trade and established a small base on the island of Taiwan. The Portuguese and Spanish did not have this area for a long however, the Dutch soon took over. The Dutch did not want to give up their area in South East Asia. They sent representatives to China and Japan and Deshima to establish good connections with their rivals. They did not want to war and they wanted to have a secure area in Southeast Asia. To impress the Chinese the Dutch sent a representative to perform the kowtow to have a good connection and it was successful. The Dutch East India Company was the main segment of the Dutch that took control of Southeast Asia. They were the main counterparts to drive out the Portuguese. When the Dutch landed and beat the Portuguese they concentrated on the spice trade since it was very popular and also on spice Islands in Southeast Asia. The Portuguese seized Malacca which was a very strategic town on a straight at the end of the Malay Peninsula. Southeast Asian trade and economy was very successful due to spices found in Southeast Asia and other goods that were needed by other countries of the world. The Dutch almost gave up their territory though to the Acheh and other local kingdoms of Sumatra and Java, but they won the battles against them. Before the 19th-century however most all Southeast Asia was made up all of the independent kingdoms. After the 19th century though, Britain, France, and again the Dutch conquered all of Southeast Asia except Siam which remained independent. They conquered these areas because all the fertile soil, the constant warm, and heavy rains. These newly conquering countries made Southeast Asia very wealthy as it has always been because of the imported goods from America Africa and China. All of these changes relate to the theme of the world network of trade for this time period since all of these countries were trading spices and other goods that Southeast Asia produced. Therefore, a major change that occurred with Southeast Asian economy from 1450-1914 was that the economy was controlled by different countries and prospered differently as well.