On the Economic Encounter Between Asia and Europe, 1500-1800 - 9781138375833

Taylor & Francis

Economic contact between Asia and Europe dates back to at least the early years of the Common Era, but it was only in the fifteenth-century, when the Portuguese discovered the all-water route to the East Indies, that this contact became regular and significant. This collection deals with the Indian Ocean trade on the eve of the Europeans\u2019 arrival, as well as the activities of the Portuguese, Dutch and English East India companies. It also contains essays on textile manufacturing, coinage and wages in India, and Bengali politics. > The history of the economic contacts between Asia and Europe dates back to at least the early years of the Common Era. But it was only after the overcoming of the transport technology barrier to the growth of trade between the two continents following the discovery by the Portuguese at the end of the 15th century of the all-water route to the East Indies that these contacts became regular and quantitatively significant. The Portuguese were joined at.