Commerce, Agriculture, and Slavery: Crash Course European History #8

Crash Course European History: Everyday Life in Early Modern Europe

Introduction to Everyday Life

• John Green introduces the focus on everyday life, moving away from political struggles and religious conflicts.

• He emphasizes that history is about how people lived, not just political events, referencing Miroslav Volf's quote on the broader impact of politics.

Economic Conditions in 1500

• In 1500, Europe faced low life expectancy and poor living conditions; famines were common.

• The economy was primarily subsistence-based with limited agricultural surplus; only princes had regular access to food.

Improvements in Living Standards (1500-1750)

• Despite wars and strife, the early modern period saw gradual improvements in population and living standards.

• Population growth was notable; Britain's population nearly doubled between 1700 and 1800 due to agricultural advancements.

Agricultural Revolution

• Key developments included crop rotation, land reclamation by the Dutch, enclosure of common lands, and new farming inventions like the seed drill.

• Crop rotation improved soil quality by alternating crops such as turnips and clover to replenish nutrients.

Social Impact of Agricultural Changes

• Enclosure led to fewer people having access to land as wealthier farmers consolidated control over common lands.

• Elizabeth of Sutherland's case illustrates social dislocation; she removed tenants for more efficient sheep farming while increasing productivity but causing homelessness among former tenants.

Consequences of Agricultural Innovations

• The Agricultural Revolution resulted in increased food production but also significant poverty and migration as disenfranchised workers moved to cities or abroad.

The Impact of Agricultural Changes on Society

The Dual Nature of Agricultural Transformation

• The transformation in agriculture had mixed effects; while some viewed it as fatal, others experienced trauma and loss due to displacement from ancestral lands.

• Increased agricultural production led to population growth and urbanization, creating opportunities for specialized labor such as shoemaking and theater.

Introduction of New Crops

• The influx of crops like potatoes and maize from the Americas contributed significantly to food production, allowing cultivation on previously unfit land.

• Potatoes are highlighted as a crucial crop due to their high carbohydrate content and adaptability to poor soil conditions, making them a staple food source.

Knowledge Transfer in Agriculture

• Knowledge about agriculture was exchanged between Africa, the Americas, and Europe, particularly through enslaved women who were skilled agriculturalists.

• This transfer of knowledge enabled European colonies to grow rice more effectively, showcasing the impact of African agricultural practices.

The Rise of Slavery in the Atlantic World

Growth of the Slave Trade

• Before 1650, around 7,500 Africans were transported annually via Atlantic slave ships; this number increased dramatically after native populations declined due to disease.

• Slave labor became essential for meeting Europe's growing demand for commodities like sugar and tobacco.

Racism and Dehumanization

• Initial European admiration for African wealth shifted towards contempt as greed drove the demand for slaves; this justified dehumanizing attitudes toward Africans.

• As slavery expanded, Europeans constructed narratives portraying Africans as inferior to rationalize their brutal treatment during transport across the Atlantic.

Economic Interactions with Africa

• African rulers engaged in slave trading by exchanging captives for weapons from Europeans; this cycle perpetuated further enslavement within Africa.

• Different regions participated in various forms of slavery: West African coastal slavers focused on exports while Arab traders operated in East Africa.

Complexities of the Slave Trade

Conditions Under Slavery

• By the eighteenth century, one million slaves worked under dire conditions in Brazil's lucrative sugar industry; torture and malnutrition were commonplace.

Understanding Trade Dynamics

• Historians previously described a simple triangle trade model involving Britain, Africa, and the Americas but acknowledged more complex trade routes existed.

Multidirectional Trade Networks

• West African consumers sought goods like cowrie shells as payment for slaves; these items traveled extensive routes before reaching their destinations.

Economic Growth and Innovation in Trade

The Role of European Shippers in Trade Expansion

• European shippers engaged in extensive local coastline shipping, facilitating trade around the Indian Ocean and at Chinese depots in the Philippines to acquire porcelain.

• The demand for goods surged among European consumers, leading to significant wealth accumulation for merchants.

• A stark increase in tea imports by the East India Company from 23 pounds in 1660 to five million pounds by 1750 exemplifies this unprecedented consumption growth.

Innovations Driving Economic Change

• Beyond slavery and colonization, innovation—both tangible products and conceptual ideas like corporations—was crucial for economic development.

• Joint stock companies emerged to finance merchant ships, while double-entry bookkeeping improved financial tracking for merchants and bankers.

• Legal protections limiting liability for investors were not established until later, exposing them to significant risks such as losing homes if a ship was lost at sea.

Impact of Banking on Society

• The Fugger family of bankers illustrates the interconnectedness of finance and monarchy; their loans to monarchs led to their own financial ruin when those monarchies faced bankruptcy due to costly wars against Protestants.

Social Disruption Through Commerce

• The rise of commerce generated new societal values and wealthy groups outside traditional aristocracy, challenging long-standing beliefs about lineage importance.

• Capitalism fostered private enterprise ownership, shifting societal focus towards profit-making activities above all else.

Competition Between Classes