Question

The following question refers to the topic of global markets in the 1600s and 1700s.

Which of the following best explains the importance of the East Indies in the European-dominated trade networks of the 1600s and 1700s?
A) The region offered control of sailing routes to Australia and the Pacific islands.
B) The region was a source of spices and other luxury goods for the European market.
C) The region was a source of staple foodstuffs that supplied Europe's growing population.
D) The region provided sites for Europeans to establish large settler colonies.

Answer 1

B) The region was a source of spices and other luxury goods for the European market.

Step-by-step explanation:

During the 1600s and 1700s, the East Indies (modern-day Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines) were known for their abundance of spices, such as cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. These spices were highly valued in Europe for their culinary and medicinal uses, and the demand for them was very high. European powers such as the Dutch, the British, and the Portuguese established trading posts and colonies in the region to gain control of the spice trade and reap the profits from it. The East Indies were also a source of other luxury goods, such as silk and porcelain, that were highly prized in Europe. Therefore, the East Indies played a vital role in the European-dominated trade networks of the time, as they provided the necessary goods to satisfy the high demand of the European market.