Meredith, Smith, 4

Allison Meredith, Julie Smith

Bennett, Martin
Period 5 Humanities
26th January, 2016
Argument Essay 2

The Eurasian world, throughout much of the worlds history, dominated and
shaped global trade patternsand therefore the economy of the entire world. Around the
16th century, China, having always been an economic powerhouse, became extremely
engrossed by silver; to the extent that it soon began taxing its citizens for the valuable
metal. The new policies had an enormous impact on the world, not only from a financial
standpoint, but the change inspired exploration, innovation, and promoted many cultural
changes across the world. Due to the high demand for silver in China, prices for the
already valuable metal rose dramaticallyputting it in a position of extremely high
demand, and motivating many European countries to pursue involvement in the silver
trade. European engagement not only encouraged trade and prosperity in the West, but
improved the Chinese economy by aiding the creation of a stable trade connection from
the East to West. The world today, as a result of the early connections formed through
trade, continues to remain in this open network of trade, which mostof, if not all-nations participate in one way or another. The silver production, despite harming a few
uneducated natives; boosted the economies of countless countries worldwide, initiated
the beginnings of worldwide trade, and eventually gave these countries the means to
create dozens of groundbreaking technologies.

Meredith, Smith, 4
The production of silver, in addition to aiding the economies of many countries in
the East, also had a positive influence on the social state of these countries. The
mainstream introduction of silver to these economies was one of the main initiators of
global tradefrom the Americas all the way to the inner workings of Eurasia. Chinas tax
on silver ended up allowing most of this newfound silver to eventually find its way over
to China, where there was a great influx in the price. With the Europeans acting as the
Middle-man, most of this silver was sent from the Americas to China by the way of
European mines and ships. Europeans had little to no control over the fluctuation over the
prices of silver--China controlled that--yet in many nations worldwide, like Spain, the
silver coin became the standard currency and still holds a high value, even in modern day
(The New International Silver Movement 449). Whereas some countries, such as
Spain, were not able to productively use this recently acquired silver, due to a rigid
economic structure, the profit of silver in China fabricated a more commercialized and
regionally specified nation. Though this newfound silver did not provided the best means
of mining, the impact that was produced economically remains evident to the modern era.
Although exploration and colonization were motivated by various factors, it was
the silver explosion of the 16th century that made the largest impact on global exploration
and commerce. The hunt for silver that ensued throughout the 16th century ignited
competition and desire for profit, inspiring countries such as Spain and England to
establish mining sites in the Latin and North American regions. The worldwide market,
primarily initiated by silver production in the Americas, was an effect of Chinas taxes on
silver, and the European pursuit of wealth. If not for silver, the world wouldve been
lacking the much-needed push for maritime voyaging that silver forced it to receive--and

Meredith, Smith, 4
many modern-day countries--such as the United States--might still be developing to this
very day. The need to transport silver to China influenced people to to create dozens of
new trade routes, and soon a plethora of new connections between various continents that
were previously off the map became far more relevant in the global scene. Silver gave
birth to a truly global network of exchange, creating the first sustained link between Asia
and America and creating a web of trade across the Pacific. It was truly a remarkable
thing--the ability of a single precious metal to have such a large impact on the world, and
completely shape global trade and economy (Ways of the World, 682).
Europe, taking upon itself the difficult position of funneling silver into China,
treated the Native peoples of America in a way that some would describe as immoral. The
harsh treatment, however, was completely necessary, and completely worth it--The
impacts on trade and globalization were massive, and without a small amount of
suffering, the degree of advancement would have been completely unattainable. The
victory, while harming a small sum of unfortunate natives--was a savior to many people
worldwide. It gained a massive amount of capital for the numerous countries--money that
promoted advancement, and led to life-saving technological innovation such as medicine,
that would not have existed at the time if not for the wealth accumulated from South
American mines. As human beings, there is no benefit in allowing sentiment to cloud our
judgment--we must believe in what will truly impact us in the most profound ways. It is
of the utmost importance that one does not only focus on saving a small group of people,
but thinks on the impact something might have on the whole of mankind. One must think
of what will benefit society most as a whole, and there is nothing that has been as kind to

Meredith, Smith, 4
humanity as the global commerce sparked from silver--the largest avenue for life-saving
technologies and that human pursuit of happiness and freedom.