oriana

Oriana Chappelle Period 4 It is clear that the social effects, as well as economic, affected the global flow of silver from the mid-sixteenth century to the early eighteenth century by benefiting Spanish colonial America and China because of the relationship they shared. Officials, scholars, writers, and priests we all affected by the Ming Chinese government tax because some of them made money from it when others did not. An additional document that would have helped understand the point of view would have been a document from someone of a very low class because it would have explained how easy or difficult life was for them. Also, a document from the emperor about the taxes would have helped understand how much they really were benefiting by silver coins. There would have been a lot of help if a document from a Spanish merchant was available because they were taxed by the Ming Chinese government. Document 4 and Document 8 both show how merchants benefitted from silver coins. Document 4 is told from the point of view of an actual merchant who believes he benefits from silver coins because he can bring foreign goods back to his country. By having silver coins, merchants trade their things for silver coins, and with this they buy Chinese merchandise to sell in their country. Document 8 is told in the eyes of an English scholar who also believes that England benefits from gold and silver because they also receive luxurious materials from Asia. He believes this because this trade allows him to have these “perishable commodities.” Documents 1, 2, and 3 all convey that silver coins did not help the economy and that it made life difficult for many people of the lower class which are told in the perspective of officials and one scholar. Document 1 explains how the people keep spending money on weddings and they spend it in places other than Asia. The official speaking is disappointed because they are making less of a profit, which interests him since he’s in the government. Document 2 explains how Spanish colonial America’s economy went downhill because they sold all their goods to buy merchandise from China, which affects him since he’s a scholar and now that materials are scarce he must save money. He’s upset since all their money and goods have now been spent on Chinese merchandise, meaning he’ll have to adapt. Document 3 shows how the lower class does not have the currency to buy the necessities of their lives to survive. It explains how the silver coin was spent more than received, which didn’t help Chinese people with their merchandise. Document 5,6, and 7 explain the flow of silver currency and how it affected every class, as well as where they got silver coins from. Document 5 shows how lower classes would get silver coins, which shows that they finally developed a financial system of moneylenders. Moneylenders gave silver coins, which was like taking out a loan. Document 6 explained how Asia took silver coins at the Spanish mine without paying taxes, which conveys how much power they really had with trade. Document 7 shows how Chinese merchandise was sold very cheap, yet in other countries the same item was being sold for almost 200 bars more.