Indian+Ocean

1. [|notes]

pre-existing trading conditions in Indian Ocean how the portugese took advantage of pre-existing trade vibe
 * 3 zones (Arab, Chinese, Indian)
 * traded for individual benefit
 * peaceful - no central control
 * no formal rules - ** no militray presence
 * military superiority, better weapons and ships
 * element of surprise
 * disunity & individualism -- divide and conquer
 * on coast, no huge land armies, easy to just conquer individual ports & merchants
 * established factories (place to store goods until they can be shipped to Europe, used in Africa to store slaves)
 * able to create trade monopolies to some extend (nutmeg & mace)
 * very limited success with christianity conversion in parts of India, Japan...
 * (especially because Islam got there first and most merchants were already Muslim)
 * mercantilism -- EXPORT not IMPORT, but don't export gold & silver because thats how you measure wealth
 * tried a license system - REGULATING trade because they had a monopoly (people would pay to be able to trade -- this failed)