The World That Trade Created

People have been trading for many years. For example, England traded opium in China for Chinese green tea; England traded Indian cloth for slaves and other goods. In turn, trade has helped create the world we live in. The impact of trade throughout East and South Asia correlates with changes in function and structures in states, changes in the system of social structure, relationship of change across time, and impacts technology.
Trade can impact the change in function and structures in states. For example, Sulu, a kingdom that was under Spanish rule, was with war with Spain for its independence. The sultanate of Sulu needed allies to fight against Spain. England needed goods (pearls, sharks’ fin, Sandalwood, etc.) to trade with China. So when England stumbled across Sulu, both societies could trade to get what they wanted. Sulu got guns, money, and foreign goods. England got slaves who could get pearls, sharks’ fin, Sandalwood, etc. cheaply to trade with China. The structure of Sulu changed. Slave owning in Sulu reached greater heights. The structure of Sulu hierarchy became masters, slaves, and slaves of slaves. Slave raiding became a major problem for Sulu (it never was before), and other weaker kingdoms around Sulu collapsed or became part of Sulu. The function of Sulu also changed. Before England became its ally, Sulu didn’t do much. After England came, Sulu’s main function was to give England goods.
Trade can also affect changes in the system of social structure. After the Suez Canal was built, Europe thought that it could make a common identity in the East under European control. Since goods where easier to get, European men had a place where they could do business and raise a family. One place this happened was in Malaysia. The European men who traded in Malaysia now brought in their European wives. Slowly the Europeans started to avoid direct contact with the locals; and the “Eurasians” who were equal to the Europeans dropped in status. Others soon followed the European example. For example, when the Chinese came to Malaysia, they created segregated schools and neighborhoods. Thus, a new social structure was created in Malaysia, the Europeans on top, the Chinese, and the locals.
Trade also impacts the relationship of change across time. Hawaii changed from being an isolated island to an annexation of America. In the beginning, Hawaii was given the name sandwich Island by Captain Cook, and remained mostly isolated for many years. After many years, America owned 80 percent of all sugar plantations in Hawaii, and helped make Hawaii’s sugar production boom. After America had a falling out with the King of Hawaii and the King refused to agree with America’s trade treaty on sugar, America wanted to annex Hawaii. In the beginning, the planter didn’t want annexation, but when Queen Liliuokalani was crowned, the planter changed their minds because they feared the Queen will reduce their power. Shortly after the crowning of Queen Liliuokalani, the planters staged a coup and asked America for annexation. President Cleveland refused, but four years later, President McKinley annexed Hawaii. Because of the sugar trade between America and Hawaii, Hawaii changed from being a small island that didn’t produce any goods to a major sugar producer and a territory of the United States. Trade also impacted technology in South Asia. When the British built the train system in India, the British didn’t get what they were looking for. The train system wasn’t profitable for many years. However, it did make a difference in India. The shipping rates declined 80 percent relative to their income. The volume of traffic increased 1,000 percent in 65 years. More Indians were making cash crops, getting more civilians to train lines that were originally built for military proposes. Rice and wheat growers started to eat the other grain, so blight striking of either grain decreased. Building the train increased trade throughout India.
Trade has impacted the world. Trade changed the function and structures of Sulu. Trade also changed in the system of social structure in Malaysia. Trade impacted relationship of change across time in Hawaii. Finally, trade impacted technology in India.