TRADE IN THE AGE OF EMPIRES

1547–1721 1600 - 1874 1707-1997

Tsardom of Russia English East India Company British Empire

Fur: Tea: Oats:

Encouraged conquests Numerous wars were High prices lead to
and wars in Asia and in fought over the trade of widespread discontent,
North America. tea. rebellions and even
Many local populations Helped Britain become the famines.
were nearly wiped out worlds most powerful Reduced tariffs changed
during these wars. country. the world economy forever.
Imperialism
When a country expands its influence or territory.

Protectionism
Defending markets and workers in your own country against foreign competition.

Trade War
Militarily, economically or diplomatically fighting another country to benefit your
trading capabilities.
Expansion of Russia
English arrive in North
America
British-French Colonial Wars
Russians arrive in North-
America and conquer Alaska
TRADED GOOD:

Fur
The Fur Trade
In the 15th and 16th Centuries fur became
incredibly popular amongst rich people. Each
coat could require numerous animal skins and
this meant hunting for furs became a huge
operation.

2 regions in particular changed forever due to

the fur trade - North America and Eastern
Russia.

Both of these were previously undeveloped, but

this quickly all changed.
 The Fur Trade
A lot of the trade was lead by Trading Companies. These are businesses who only deals with trading goods,
sometimes only one. Kings would often give the company the right to monopolize the trade in a region or
commodity.

Plus their shares can be bought and sold by shareholders.

One of the first was the Mucovy Company. This was an English Company which traded fur in Russia.

Where did these operate and what do you think they traded?
Why did countries give private
British East India Company Guinea Company companies a monopoly over trade in a
region?
Turkey Comapny Virginia Company

Russian-American Company
 Muscovy Company
Because the Portuguese and Spanish controlled routes to
China across the Pacific and Indian Ocean, the Muscovy
Company tried to find a route to China through the North
East.
They couldn't find this route, but did find fur trading
opportunites in Russia.
Russia
Russia was conquered by the Mongols and remained
undeveloped compared to the rest of Europe. They lacked
many resources and factories, but had a lot of fur. So, they
welcomed trading companies like the Muscovy Company, so
they could begin to make money from exports.
However to make sure that they had enough, they began to
expand.
Hudson Bay Company
Like the Muscovy Company, they were trying to find a new
path to Asia. But they couldn't cross through the cold water
of Northern Canada. But, like the Muscovy Company, they
found fur trading opportunities in Canada.
North America
Like with Russia, this region was underdeveloped and the
native Americans were divided into numerous tribes. So,
when the French and English arrived in the region, they
were happy to trade furs for weapons and manufactured
items.
However, the English and French began to fight wars over
control of the fur trade and the North Americans were
often stuck in the middle and had to pick sides.
The diary of an English Merchant
Dear Diary:

We have failed once again

to find the North-East
passage after being caught
in huge ice-sheets. So we
landed in Russia and met
with the members of the
Muscovy Company. to be too small. So the
Russians invaded and, using
They took us out East to teams of hunters, kill
the frontiers of the Russian thousands of animals every
Empire, where the local month. Now 10% of their
Siberians have been economy depends on fur,
conquered. They used to and I believe they'll push
provide a tribute of furs to further and further East.
the Russians, but this proved
Dear Diary:

We sailed back to
England, where at the docks,
hundreds of stock traders sat
in coffee shops to see which
ships had arrived. As soon as
we did there was chaos as
they ran this way and that, Our factories now
checking to see what we had produce a vast array of
and sending messages to textiles, weapons and other
their colleagues. goods, all looking for buyers
We on the otherhand around the world, but
went to the headquarters of instead we have been told
the trading company where to embark on the Triangular
we were given our next Route to Africa.
assignment
Dear Diary:

The triangular route is

becoming very unpopular in
Britain, and some people
have even decided to
boycott the goods. This is
because we take the
weapons and clothes
produced in Britain to Africa,
and there we purchase
slaves.
We then took the
thousands of slaves, all
tightly packed underneath to
the Caribbean and America,
where they are sold to sugar
and cotton producers.
Many died on the way,
but we just threw them
overboard, thinking nothing
of it. This is the only way we
can produce sugar, tobacco
and cotton for our Empire.
However, in some places the
slaves have started to rebel.
Dear Diary:

Terrible news today. We

have heard that the French
have constructed huge forts
along the St Lawrence river
and formed alliances with
many Native American tribes.
This now stops us from
moving inland to find the furs
we so desperately need. Our
colonists however have
formed an army and intend to
drive the French back. And
fortunately we have one ally,
the Iroquois, who should help
us in the Beaver War.
I'm however no soldier,
so I decided to sail North, to
our new colony on the
Hudson Bay. There there'll
be no French to stop us
collecting our fur. The only
problem could come from
the natives, but we've
beaten many of them