Dr. Shrout – Page 27 – Atlantic History

Atlantic Trafficking: Labor, Migrations, and Settlements

October 3, 2016December 16, 2020Dr. Shrout

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Chapter 5 of The Atlantic World by Egerton et al. describes how the movement of people and material from place to place led to settlements, labor regimes, and migrations. Europeans used natives as well as slaves to extract fortune and build upon their settlements. In South America, the Spanish used the natives “for slavery to extract minerals for trade (156).” In England, people like John Wise hopped aboard a ship bound for Barbados “looking for economic opportunity (164).” Although he chose to migrate, some were actually lured or taken aboard ships to work in forced labor. In addition, Egerton also notes how anyone who “rejected Spanish rule and Christianity was swept into forced labor (151).” This was like an early form of human trafficking, kidnapping people to force them into labor. I like how Marissa’s Post uses certain people to help us understand who was involved in the labor, migration and settlements of this time in Atlantic History. Using these people as references determine the circumstances and reasons forthese people’s involvement in the labor movements.

Of course, you can`t have labor without a settlement. Santo Domingo witnessed the arrival of cathedrals, universities, and hospitals brought by the Spanish, who used this town for agriculture and extracting money through enslaving the natives. Sometimes, settlements were often determined by the abundance of resources and relations with natives. New Netherland, a former trading post, become a thriving colony because of the riches it obtained from the prosperous fur trade. In addition to fur, Egerton notes they established a food trade network with the Caribbean. He mentions how “Jamaica’s Port Royal and Tortuga were pirate havens for men like the famous Captain Henry Morgan (165)”.

In conclusion, labor, migration, and settling in certain areas created a larger Atlantic network with Europe, Africa (with the slaves), and the Americas. These intricate networks would not be here today had it not been for these actions taken on natives and Europeans alike.

Egerton, Douglas, Alison Games, Donald R. Wright, Kris E. Lane, Jane G. Landers. The Atlantic World: A History, 1400-1888. Wheeling, IL: Harlan Davidson, 2007.

Labor, Migration, and Settlement

October 2, 2016December 16, 2020Dr. Shrout

In “Chapter Five” of The Atlantic World, the main focus is labor, migration, and settlement and how they are all interlaced to one another. It led to Indian, European, and African migrants being linked and dictated by the demand of labor (150). The chapter opens up with the story of Barbara Rolfe, a woman who was forced by her father to live in the new English colonies in North America. According to her father George, he had no other choice for his daughter who disobeyed him and the new colonies offered solutions for her. The story of Barbara Rolfe reflects the stories of numerous others who were forced to migrate because of labor. Other causes for labor were “economic cycles, population growth and collapse, declining opportunities for employment and marriage, domestic discord, death of a parent, custom, war, invasion, [and] deception” (149). The tasks the labor demanded were beyond what any human could perform, which means the laborers were forced to get it done. Egerton says, “migration and labor were linked to the commodities and minerals of the Atlantic and the consumer tastes and commercial demands” (150). In the Caribbean, the Spanish created the encomienda system, which “marshaled labor through village leaders” (150). Also, Queen Isabella later accepted “just war” that allowed enslavement of anyone who rejected Spanish dominion and Christianity (151). The Requirement was a document that conquerors read to natives, saying that “Spaniards would not compel conversion” but “required [them] to recognize Spain’s sovereignty and the right of missionaries to preach” (151).
Once again, the chapter focused on labor, migration and settlement. It reinforces the idea of the book that the Atlantic World was a time of exchange of people, commodities, and ideas. The interactions between the different people and places created a coherent region that changed the course of history. Migration in America helped Indians avoid the Europeans. These actions caused a small yet significant Indian population. The different colonist had different ways in which they settled in the Americas. The English were agricultural labors who focused on the West. They consisted of British and Irish settlers. However, the Spanish settled in urban areas, settling in Indian towns. The Spaniards recreated life in the cities as they knew it. They extracted agricultural surpluses and labor from the native populations. The different societies came together in various ways. Brought up by Enrique Angulo’s post about “Chapter Two” of Lauren Benton’s A Search for Sovereignty, the European expeditions provided opportunity of exploration. The chapter is eye opening to say the least. It shows the different interactions between the many people in the Americas and their reasoning for migrating. However, it did come off across as native populations being passive and having events happen to them rather than them being active players.

Atlantic World Chapter 5

October 2, 2016December 16, 2020Dr. Shrout

This chapter explains three sections of European production and expansion through labor, migration, and settlement. I think the reason Europeans wanted to succeed in the Atlantic because they chose to recruit indentured men and women to join other free Europeans to travel to America to expand colonies, production, create settlements, and seek opportunities for social and commercial increase. Although many indentured men and women spread diseases through Europe to decrease their travel to America, however, many Europeans continued their journey to America and gained through migration through larger and richer territories along with large amounts of merchant goods to use for production in America. As a result of European migrant workers, this created five categories of settlements around the Atlantic World including urban areas, trading posts, missionary villages, plantations, and family-centered productive units. (Chapter 5, Page 168). In my opinion, the Europeans creation of the Dutch East India Company in Southern Africa in 1652, where they developed a plantation to produce sugar, cotton, and coffee. (Chapter 5, Page 170). By the 1630s, the English established another settlement called “The Transatlantic Family Enterprise” located in New England, where they produced plantations, family production areas, and religion. One of the best examples of migration was a group of women called “Holy Women.” European women ventured to the Americas to convert to Christianity, the Ursulines and the Augstines travelled to New France in Canada by 1639. The reason these women came to America was to create hospitals to cure any diseases that occurred in recent events and convert education to indigenous women and children. (Chapter 5, Page 180). By the first two centuries, the Europeans became a stronger force because of their expansion through America, migrating indentured people for production, and settlements that established the Europeans colonies through expansion in America.

This reminds me of what Enrique Angulo explained in the last reading “A Search of Sovereignty” relating to African diseases from that decreased the amount of European Travelers just as European diseases effected travelling to the New World, however, the other European Travelers continued to travel to the New World and America.

European Emergence in Atlantic Spaces

October 2, 2016December 16, 2020Dr. Shrout

As Atlantic spaces began to experience dramatic shifts in structure and population, Europeans began to attain more prominence in their territories. Commerce among settlement and religious freedom were major factors in shaping the demographics of the Atlantic world. The constant demand for goods exported through trade relied on a labor force of indigenous, enslaved, and European populations (Egerton, 150). People of color were forced to do dangerous backbreaking work and whites in authority exercised total control over them (Egerton, 160). Indentured servants migrated to Atlantic spaces hoping to make a living and gain freedom in new lands (Egerton, 164). Mass migrations of these Europeans eventually led to settlement after their term ended, increasing white populations and leaving a serious impact on indigenous groups. As more native people faltered due to disease and attacks from whites, there were more opportunities for outsiders to claim Atlantic spaces as their own. Trading posts and settlements were used by Europeans to increase their profits in trade, and they maintained relations with native groups if only briefly (Egerton, 168). Lastly, families and religious groups migrated to the Atlantic in search for religious freedom. Prejudice and religious intolerance led Jewish people and Europeans to other countries to practice their religion in a safer place (Egerton, 179). By migrating to North America or other parts of the Atlantic, religious groups began to populate more spaces and further diversify religion. Across centuries, Europeans managed to not only establish great prominence in the Atlantic, but to alter its demographic makeup in dramatic ways.

I agree with Shreshta’s point on Europeans implementing laws to gain superiority over indigenous peoples. The Spanish’s Requirement of 1510 is an example of a law meant to force indigenous people in the Americas to acknowledge authority and risk punishment if they did not (Egerton, 151). Various European groups have initiated laws to gain control over their subjects, and targeted anyone who dared to question their prominence. Chapter Five also reminded me of Stephanie Smallwood’s “African Guardians,” where European masters used African slaves to exercise control over the rest of the slaves on the ship. Both the chapter and the article explain the dynamics of power in the Atlantic. Indigenous peoples exercised great power in their homelands before Europeans established colonies in their territory, and native populations experienced a severe decline not long afterwards.

Christopher Columbus Discover America

October 1, 2016December 16, 2020Dr. Shrout

My final project topic will focus on Christopher Columbus’s journey and discovery to America in 1492. I chose this topic for my final project because I am interested of learning how Christopher Columbus was able recruit people to help him travel around the Atlantic and discover the Americas during that time. The context of this topic will focus on the people that Columbus recruited and received help from various people around the Atlantic. This will also focus on how he made deals with various groups that Columbus used to get help him towards America. I am interested how Columbus was able to communicate with people and groups speaking various languages and how he got along with various indigenous people from around the World. I look forward to learn more about Christopher Columbus’ journey through the Atlantic to America.

Final Project Topic

September 30, 2016December 16, 2020Dr. Shrout

My topic will explore the way in which Native Americans affected river exploration for early explorers in the Americas. This can include their navigation efforts on ships, and the treatment that was experienced on these ships.

Final Paper Topic

September 29, 2016December 16, 2020Dr. Shrout

I chose a topic of great interest to me in Atlantic History: Pirate Weaponry. I’m interested in it because when the English and Dutch raided Spanish ships, they needed something to plunder and pillage the riches the Spanish had below deck and I’m also fascinated with the history of weaponry over time. I’m ready to read about how pirate weaponry evolved over time as they sought to build their empires. I’m looking forward to doing a final paper about the swashbuckling raiders of the Atlantic and the tools of their vicious trade.

Treacherous Places

September 28, 2016December 16, 2020Dr. Shrout

In Chapter 2 of Lauren Benton’s Work A Search for Sovereignty the establishment of European riverside expeditions is discussed. These expeditions were established on the idea that travelling alongside the rivers of the African continent and the “New World” would prove to be lucrative as well as provide the opportunity for exploration. In reality these expeditions proved to be quite treacherous in more ways than one. The terrain of these environments proved to be quite hazardous resulting in many expeditions resulting in failure and the harsh environment seemed to embolden some of the lower ranking members of the expeditionary teams making insurrection and treason common. In an attempt to curb the number of mutinies, public execution of traitors became standard. This made sure that potential mutineers knew what they were getting themselves into. To top it all off since the European expedition teams were heading into unknown territory, they had to rely on native guides which is strange as my peer Tyler points out because, they did not trust them and thought of them as being inferior. This false sense of superiority makes native peoples an odd shoulder to lean on.

On a personal note Lauren Benton seems to have an odd set of interests if she is writing works that involve both roman laws and colonial era commerce. Despite her love for the study of colonial era commerce she seems to have forgotten the one thing that prevented Europeans from trading with the African continent for the longest time, disease. Malaria and other African born diseases decimated European explorers almost as hard as European born diseases rocked the new world, yet they receive very little attention in this chapter.

The Importance of Rivers in Treason and Colonial Expansion

September 28, 2016December 16, 2020Dr. Shrout

In this reading, Benton discusses river exploration and its importance in shaping and advancing other European laws and policies such as treason within European empires. As Europeans discovered new areas, such as Africa and the New World, they quickly realized the value of river travel. While river trade in Africa proved challenging and difficult at first, Europeans discovered an effective strategy to control the rivers and trade (pg. 45). When Europeans began to settle the New World and establish trade routes and settlements, they looked to the examples they previously had from Europe and Africa. They quickly found that the New World rivers were nothing like those of Africa or Europe, and they also quickly discovered how difficult they were to navigate. Explorers were often confused and lacked the proper knowledge to navigate the region, causing the rivers to become very deadly. Further reliance on Indians proved unstable, with the Indians often sabotaging Europeans (pg. 53).

It is in these rivers that Benton argues that treason began to have power (pg. 68). Benton backs this concept up using the life of Bemoim, an African king who instructed Portuguese to build a fort on an estuary, which was unfamiliar river territory for the Portuguese. As Portuguese at the fort grew sick and died, Bemoim was blamed and executed for treason (pg. 65). While stories like these were not necessarily a commonplace, Benton argues that they were vastly important in understanding the advancement of European laws and power. He further equates unfamiliarity of rivers and inland water with the rise in use of treason. In the pursuit of gold, riches, and land, Europeans used treason as a method to dispose of that stood in their way (pg. 86). Benton backs this concept up using evidence from Bacon’s Rebellion. It was there that Nathaniel Bacon led a rebellion against the Governor in an attempt to gain political power (pg. 98). Through examples such as this, it is clear that there was a progression in the use of treason for political gain.

Allison Robert argues rivers were a symbol of land ownership, which I agree with. Rivers were important in European expansion, as they allowed for travel to other regions. Their importance is largely the reason for the creation of treason laws, which were in turn expanded to be used in any case involving individuals that got in the way of political, economic, or land expansion.

A Search for Sovereignty

September 28, 2016December 16, 2020Dr. Shrout

Lauren Benton describes the commercial advantages of inland river areas discovered (and fought over) by Atlantic Europeans. This book dealt with colonial European entities that feuded over various complex river systems along, or close to, the Atlantic coast. Tales of mutiny and communal corruption arise from the Mississippi and Amazon on one side of the Atlantic to the vast river valleys of West and Central Africa on the other. Both namely the Spanish and the English struggled with trying to keep loyalty among their colonial subjects intact overseas. The betrayal of Cabeza de Vaca by his military followers demonstrates the continual tradition of feuding for land and surplus in Renaissance Europe. The viceroyalties that erupted among the northwestern coasts of South America served to install a geographical checkpoint for the Spanish, still questioning whether a passage to the East was doable sailing westward from where they were at.

As a pretext to the assertion of certain Native peoples preserving riches and certain trading prospects within their habitat, the colonial powers of Europe administered laws and policies overseas to ensure competence in Native cooperation. They also adhered to Roman law to install governmental outposts among trade landmarks dispersed all over the Atlantic. As my colleague http://hist410.aloberts.com/blog/uncategorized/rivers-and-treason-the-european-way/ posted this week, they used rivers as a symbol of land ownership and as a way to show that they plan to explore more areas. “Old World” tradition and adaptation was key in visualizing the balance of power between royalty and mercantilism in Atlantic river systems.

Atlantic History – Fall 2016

Author: Dr. Shrout

Atlantic Trafficking: Labor, Migrations, and Settlements

Labor, Migration, and Settlement

Atlantic World Chapter 5

European Emergence in Atlantic Spaces

Christopher Columbus Discover America

Final Project Topic

Final Paper Topic

Treacherous Places

The Importance of Rivers in Treason and Colonial Expansion

A Search for Sovereignty