Chapter 14

To what extent did Europeans transform earlier patterns of commerce, and in what ways did they assimilate into those older patterns?

The main reason for Europeans seeking out new trade routes was to secure direct connection with suppliers, eliminate the middle man (Asians and Muslims) saving money, maintaining control, and having direct pricing with all suppliers. By learning advanced navigation (trade winds) and global geography (mapping) added with systematic intent in creating new trade routes, the security of supply and demand (especially tropical spices) would solely be in their hands.

Weaponization, Military forces, metalwork, and gunsmithing, were the old ways of controlling and conquering. The introduction of a modern fleet that could house all of these strong "force of arms" factors set aside Europeans in controlling "trading post empires" (trade routes) instead fo having to claim land, but still was not enough to secure enough to have a monopoly. Taxation and dependency on Asian goods and Asian ports is where the Europeans reverted back to and just harnessed trading routes to become more efficient and faster by adding shipping lanes.