The Maritime Trade

The Maritime Trade

“A smooth sea never made a skillful sailor”. The quote of the max group marines genuinely reflects the use of the sea for navigation to facilitate trade. Trade has been an integral part of the socialization process of man since time memorial. The first attempts to trade were traditional through the form known as barter trade. However, trade has gradually developed and invented new methods of trade in the process of human civilization. Countries such as China have been known for their association with the trade that began before the 16^th century. Following the European colonization of most of the Asian countries, the Chinese Maritime trade was invented. Ideally, the trade not only led to the growth of most the Asian countries, but it also contributed to shaping the forces of migration. Notably, the immigration patterns in the southern part of Asian could explain the changes that could be seen in the model of trade. Typically, evaluating the differences in the flow before the maritime and after, as well as the dynamics and impacts of the invasion in these nations, can go a long way in enhancing the understanding of the early trade.

Before the introduction of the Maritime trade in south East Asia, the Chinese flow to these sections was shaped by the aspects of culture, including religion, culture, and commerce. During this time, the Chinese merchants were the leading traders, and they acted as the middlemen for the trade, and they ensured that the trade occurred between people and that the trade was fair. Before the maritime, it was the Chinese who were responsible for the activities that took place in the economy of South East Asia. Kuhn explains that “Since the early 1400s the local rulers valued the Chinese as middlemen in their dealings with the Ming dynasty whose tribute system enhanced their regional status and wealth” (11). Following this, the Chinese inflow into the South was high as they were sure of making money and thereby creating a living. Following these favorable conditions, most of the Chinese people migrated and settled towards the South.

However, the position of the Chinese in the commercial and the cultural aspects of South Asia changed after the invasion of the Europeans and the introduction of the maritime trade. The first impact that the Chinese faced was the loss of their primary supplier. Initially, Japan was the main supplier of silver until the introduction of the Maritime trade which caused insecurities, forcing Japan to restrict its exports. Also, the Maritime affected the Chinese role of middlemen in most territories in the south eastern Asia and as a result, Chinese lost most of its traders. Kuhn argues that “Rulers of South East Asian kingdoms begun relying on the maritime for their revenue, to govern and tax the trade, they favored the foreign merchants over local merchants” (10). Following this, the Chinese had no option but to find another source of generating revenue. Following this, the Chinese opted for emigration, with the consideration of expanding the maritime trade into the European colonies. Due to the new strategy that the Chinese merchants had adopted, their numbers increased, especially around the year 1680s. the trade in these regions were intensified as new Asian trade routes were invented and a new angle was used to approach the trade.

Gradually, China retreated and begun expanding the maritime trade from their side. Taking advantage of the synergy that was brought by the introduction of the foreign trade. However, this strategy would not work for china since it had a large population and people had to survive. Following this, the wave of migration even intensified. Kuhn explains that “with acreage per capita growing scarcer in relation to population, migration become one of the several strategies for families to survive” (12). Most of the Chinese moved to areas where they were sure they would get employment and find a way of living and supporting their families. Some of the Chinese individuals migrated to abroad. In these places, they were still impactful to the Chinese economy since they created an essence of their importance in these nations. With the urge to fight the colonial forces, the Chinese communities held their employments strong and facilitated trade between the nations through transportation and constriction of mediums of transported. Through the colonization however, most aspects of the Chinese economy were disrupted and as much as they tried to work towards the reconstruction, the forces working against them were so many. Driven by an aspect of morality and responsibility, the Chinese community worked towards contributing to the development of the nation, by sending part of the income home.

The state controlled the affairs as well as the activities of the private maritime traders. Ideally, the sea, just as it is in many nations presently was the major revenue generating activity for the state. As such, they had to control the trade activities that took place and at the same time monitor what comes in and goes out of the nation. The state begun imposing taxes on the goods that were sold both inside the jurisdiction as well as those that were sold outside. The sea was offering a means through which the traders would cover a wider market. However, the restriction of the maritime through taxes created even bigger problems that proved to be a threat to not only the security of the nation but also the economy through the creation of the black market. According to Kuhn “Smuggling and piracy along the coast were the trade ban’s natural results” (9). Even so, most of the provinces were developing as a result of the maritime and there was need for it to be protected.  In attempts to maintain the maritime, the state allowed public navigation but restricted private enterprises all the same.

Additionally, the state was always on the case of the private sectors. As much as it may seem as insecurity from the government, it is a way through which the state protected its economic growth and avoid the nourishment of capitalistic economy. By the 1400s, some of the private families were already rising and becoming very influential in the jurisdiction and this was a threat to the state. As such, the government thought it wise to control and monitor the operations at the port for the private sector. The state devised a method through which it can monitor the activities of the private sectors. Kuhn explains that “private shipping was to be taxed and registered though the trade expanded so fast that official tax collectors could scarcely keep up with it” (9). The bad relationship between the private sector and the state continued to the period of the Qing which forbade maritime trade. The trade was later reopened in the year 1727, when the dynasty was sure of its safety.

Conclusively, the introduction of the Maritime trade impacted on the development of most states of the South East Asia.  The trade also led to colonization of most of the Asian countries by the Europeans. With the increasing popularity of the trade, most of the states begun to worry over the possibility of capitalists to rise. As a result, they created policies that controlled and governed the private sectors and ensured that they were in check. Taxation was a major way through which the state governments acquired their revenue. The maritime trade was however beneficial to most of the states of the East Asian countries. Chinese merchants had been the middlemen between the kingdoms of the South until the maritime trade was invented.

Work Cited

Kuhn, Phylip. Chinese Among Others Emigration In Modem Times. 1st ed., 2020, Accessed 6 Feb 2020.