Colonial Trade Networks explores how the colonial era's global commerce shaped today's international economics and political structures. It examines the mechanics of colonial trade routes, highlighting the long-term socioeconomic impacts on both colonizers and colonized populations. The book argues that these trade routes were powerful instruments that fundamentally reshaped global power dynamics, leading to enduring economic disparities and social inequalities. For example, the insatiable European desire for spices and precious metals fueled the establishment of trade networks like the transatlantic slave trade and the spice routes, which had devastating consequences for local populations.
The book progresses by first introducing key concepts such as triangular trade and chartered companies. It then develops these ideas through case studies of specific trade routes, analyzing the commodities traded and the actors involved. Finally, it examines the long-term consequences, focusing on resource dependence and the creation of global supply chains.
By drawing upon historical shipping records, colonial administrative documents, and economic data, Colonial Trade Networks provides empirical support for its arguments, offering a critical perspective on the roots of global trade imbalances and the legacy of mercantilism and resource extraction.
