Something to Think About….

Sometimes someone’s greatest strength can also become its downfall….

What would an example of this be?

Some historians say that by all rights, it was China who should have dominated the trade routes? Why?

Indian Ocean Trade Networks

Unpacking Our DocumentsSCARABS Style!

Subject or topic of documentary sourceCircumstances (time, place, occasion for the creation of the document)A – Author or creator of the documentReason why the document was created (its purpose)Audience the document was intended forBias or point of view of the creatorSignificant point the author or creator is making

Focus: How and why did Portugal come to dominate the Indian Ocean Trade network?

CHINA1405-1433 (Ming Dynasty) –

Zheng He’s Voyages of Exploration – Diplomacy and Prestige

1433 – Voyages Terminated:1. Border Issues2. Conservative factions fears

foreign influences would lead to instability

3. Possessed a large land empire

PORTUGAL1415 – (Portugal) – King Henry

the Navigator – Commercial connections and spread Christianity

1. Want all-sea route to Asian Markets – avoid Muslim and Italian intermediaries

2. Slave Trade- build sugar plantations

3. Ships with canons – allowed them to dominate by 1500