<p>This is 2008 CCOT
Can you like grade it like ap style: basic core/expanded core
(Sorry if there are some grammar mistakes, I am not a native speaker)
Question: Analyze the changes and continuities in commerce in the Indian Ocean region from 650 C.E. to 1750 C.E.</p>
<p>In the period between 650 C.E. and 1750 C.E., the Indian Ocean region continued to be a place of commerce that was economically beneficial for countries that traded and exchanged raw materials and ideas. While changes in urbanization occurred, cultural diffusion began to spread and change other countries ways of living. The most important continuities were the trade routes that were created by the European merchants and traders to import and export their materials to and from Asia. In addition, more participation of European traders in India marked a great change, due to their interest of Asian products. Therefore, as time passed by, Europeans began to settle in the Indian Ocean basin.
Traveling through the same trade routes was very beneficial and easier for the traders. Due to their repetitious trading in the Indian Ocean, the traders began to become familiarized with its trading routes and depend on its routes for their safe arrival in India. Many merchants and traders heavily depend on monsoon winds and their navigational instruments to avoid any dangers, and to transport materials faster. For example, the Arabs and the Chinese, who had compasses, could cross large expanses of open water. In addition, trading ports in East Africa had survived and maintained their value to import and export goods from the Northern part of Africa with merchants from India and other parts of the Pacific coast. Also, since the commerce in the Indian Ocean is considered as a long processing trading system, the use of storehouses still remained and continued to benefit the merchants by traveling to other areas. Furthermore, same products were traded across the Indian Ocean. While textiles, spices, and several other crops were exported from India, gold and silver were imported to India. When spices and other materials were introduced to the Western world, many merchants from Europe rapidly participated in commerce in the Indian Ocean trade and it started to emerge as an essential nation in global trade.
A rapid increase in the participation of European traders and merchants allowed them to colonize and settle in the Indian Ocean Basin. The beginning of the arrival of Europeans in the Indian Ocean established numerous trading ports and cities throughout the Pacific region. For example, the Dutch East India Company was established at Batavia in India. This reflected the Dutch decision to concentrate on the monopoly control of certain spices rather than on the entire Indian Ocean trade more generally. As the establishment of European nations continued, it gave them the opportunity to control the trading commerce system in their territory. The Europeans used their territories to provide their countries with natural resources. Later as new technologies were developed and Europeans discovered new weapons, they were able to take advantage to control the economies of several regions.
In conclusion, the Indian Ocean region has always been one of the centers of trade. The trading posts on the India Ocean were considered as a great locality for merchants to trade with other countries. Although the Indian Ocean commerce trading system has changed over the passed centuries, many ideas and trading routes still continue today.</p>