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The Making of a Global World
Explain how the global transfer of disease in the pre-modern world helped in the colonisation of the Americas.
The Portuguese and Spanish conquest and colonisation of America was decisively under way by the mid-sixteenth century.
(i)In fact, the most powerful weapon of the Spanish conquerors was not a conventional military weapon at all. It was the germs such as those of smallpox that they carried on their person.
(ii)Because of their long isolation, America’s original inhabitants had no immunity against these diseases that came from Europe.
(iii)Smallpox in particular proved a deadly killer.Once introduced, it spread deep into the continent, ahead even of any Europeans reaching there
(iv)It killed and decimated whole communities, paving the way for conquest.
(v)Guns could be bought or captured and turned against the invaders. But not diseases such as smallpox to which the conquerors were mostly immune.
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Explain how the global transfer of disease in the pre-modern world helped in the colonisation of the Americas.
Write a short note to explain the effects of the following:
The British government’s decision to abolish the Corn Laws.
Write a short note to explain the effects of the following:
The coming of rinderpest to Africa.
The death of men of working-age in Europe because of the world war.
The Great Depression on the Indian economy.
The decision of MNCs to relocate production to Asian countries.
Give two examples from history to show the impact of technology on food availability.
What is meant by the Bretton Woods Agreement?
Imagine that you are an indentured Indian labourer in the Caribbean. Drawing from the details in this chapter, write a letter to your family describing your life and feelings.
Explain the three types of movements or flows within international economic exchange. Find one example of each type of flow which involved India and Indians, and write a short account of it.
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