Hanan Saidi September 28, 2018Period 5 World Global History In 1493, Christopher Columbus introduced the Sugar cane to the Caribbean. Originally it came from New Guinea, from there traders carried cane stalk to India, and slowly over the centuries sugar worked its way to India and eventually to the Mediterranean. The sugar was new to Europe so it was something that they never used. Before long, that change caused the production of sugar to become a large industry.
The sugar trade was driven by Land and Climate, Labor and, Demand. Land and Climate was one of the major factor driving the sugar trade. The Caribbean had ideal land and climate and the Islands were close, making it easier for the nation to capitalize more. Based on Document 1 it shows Colonial map of the Caribbean from a primary source.
This map implies that British contained most of the sugar from the Caribbean since they controlled most of their Territories. The Climate played an important role in the growth of sugarcane. In addition to Document 2 it indicates Ideal Climate for cane sugar and the climate for the Caribbean Islands. This conveys that the Caribbean Islands climate was similar to the climate for ideal sugar. Therefore, it illustrates that having a fitting climate helped sugar cane plantation to increase. Land refers to all natural resources such as top soil and water, iron ore and trees, buffalo and codfish.
Which provides the raw materials for every product mankind has ever created or consumed. Jamaicans and Barbadoes had ideal climate; good soil and significant amount of rainfall. This signify the reason for British control of Islands considering British and France didn’t have suitable plantation. As a result, Land and Climate was one of the major driving of Sugar trade. Consumer Demand was also another farctor that contributed to driving of the Sugar Trade.
More sugar had to be supplied to the European people because it was necessity in everyday life to the Europeans. Based on Document 3 it shows a drawing of children gathering round a recent emptied hoghead of sugar. The Hogsheads shown in the drawing represents the large demand of sugar. In related it states ” The increase of consumptions of sugar, and the increase of demand for it, exceed all comparison with any articles, uesd as an auxilitary, in food”. This evaluates that the values sugar has risen because there are many needs for it. Since sugar was used for many things people all around are buying sugar which increased the value of it. In Document 4 it says ” Sugar as sweetener came to the fore in connection with three other exotic imports- tea, cofee, and chocolate… most important beverages in the United Kingdom”. This evidence conveys that suger was needed for those beverages.
Since Coffee and Tobacco were orginated in Europe, this determines the demand of sugar. As reported by Document 5 it shows Chart of British Sugar Consumption, 1698-1775. This chart concludes British Sugar Imports per person increasing throughout the years. As the British population increased the amount of sugar rises. Among the countries that uses sugar British values sugar more since they need it for beverages, medicines and other sweetener deserts.
