Ap World History Dbq 2006

Nick Epps 27 March 2009 AP World History Document-Based Question 2006 Although the economic effects of silver flow from the mid 16th century to the early 18th century seem to perceived similarly in the separate countries, the social effects are more biased based on the source’s point of view. Documents 4 and 5 show that silver was the preferred means of pay even though the sources were from different points-of-views (British and Ming respectfully), however; documents 2 and 7 show that the Spanish and the Chinese have different views on their hometown effects.

The documents that are in terms of economy prove to be impartial such as document 4 which involves an outsider’s view from Britain who is analyzing the Portuguese’s use of silver for the Chinese goods. In document 5, the Ming writer portrays a blatant statement that in older times, a simple barter for dyed cloth would suffice but with the since the economy is becoming more desiring of silver, common shops are starting to complicate things with solid payments of silver. For the Spanish vantage, the priest states straight facts saying that according to official records, there was an incredible amount of silver circulating. A document that would increase the understanding of the economical effects would be a report from an official documenter in Manila that has the ratio between the silver going out versus the amount of goods from China to show who has the advantage in the trade- to serve something that has a professional view.

By contrast to the non-opinionated economic effects, the social effects of the silver circulation differs opinions that represent each nation involved. Taking a look through the Ming Dynasty’s eyes, they believe that the greed involved in the silver is corrupting their lives. Interesting enough, all of the documents that are considered “Social Chinese”, they all are from the Ming officials. In document one, the Ming official is arguing that if you become too entrenched in silver, you develop an inevitable lust for the silver and you need more. He is trying to limit the amount of silver the common man will get because they will be devoured by said lust. In document 3, also by a Ming official, he reports that the respectable elders are blaming the government for the poor amounts of grain. This document is a little less biased than document 1 because it shows fair representation of the people to the emperor. The last Ming official document (7) is saying that they should allow foreign trade because the Spanish are making a profit selling the Chinese products in the Philippines. His request shows us that they would rather have money than the country’s pride. For the Spanish, document 2 is from a scholar. This scholar is complaining about the government’s spending. He is saying that the government is spending too much silver for the Asian goods- so much that it is ruining Spain. Lastly, document 8 is from an English scholar. This scholar is figuratively on the same boat as the Spaniard. He is announcing that Europe has become too enticed in the Asian commodities as well. His specific argument is that they

are giving away money for small, petty materials that will be of no use to Europe in the long run. Also, he says that the money that the government is putting into this indulgence will never be returned to Europe causing Europe to be in peril. An additional document that would best suit this is a diary of an American traveler. Since he/she is from the outside, he/she would be impartial to the situation, he/she would be able to give an accurate analysis of the social effects from the silver circulation.

Based on the given documents, the economic effects of the silver flow appear to be evaluated similarly in the accounts from the countries involved, whereas in the social sense; the viewpoints are skewed depending on the nationality and position of the source such as a Chinese official.