Asia Drives Global Silver Trade
Asia Drives Global Silver Trade is a Grade 7 history skill from California myWorld Interactive, Chapter 9: Global Convergence. Students learn how Ming China's demand for silver — requiring payment only in precious metals for silk and porcelain — drove a global silver trade, with much of the silver coming from Spanish mines in the Americas.
Key Concepts
While Europeans expanded across the Atlantic, Asia remained a powerful center of the world economy. European merchants eagerly sought luxury goods like silk and porcelain from Ming China .
However, China had a strong economy and little need for European products. Chinese rulers demanded that traders pay for goods only with precious metals. This policy made silver, much of it mined in the Americas, essential for participating in global trade.
Common Questions
How did Asia drive global silver trade?
Ming China demanded silver as payment for goods like silk and porcelain. European merchants obtained silver from mines in Spanish America and sent it to China, creating a global trade network centered on silver.
Why did China demand silver in trade?
China had a strong economy and little need for European goods. Chinese rulers required traders to pay with precious metals like silver, making it the currency of global trade with China.
Where did the silver used to trade with China come from?
Much of the silver came from mines in Spanish-controlled territories in the Americas, particularly in present-day Bolivia and Mexico. Spanish merchants traded American silver for Chinese goods.
What chapter in myWorld Interactive Grade 7 covers the global silver trade?
Chapter 9: Global Convergence in California myWorld Interactive Grade 7 covers how Asia drove global silver trade.
What goods did European merchants want from China?
European merchants eagerly sought Chinese luxury goods like silk, porcelain, and spices. China's superior quality products were in high demand across Europe, driving the global silver trade.