August 03, 2007
Archaeology of early global trade
Fragments of Globalization:
The Archaeology of Early Modern Trade and Piracy
A student conference for the crew on board Anthrarch 296
Monday August 6 and Wednesday 8, 1:00 - 4:00 pm,
West Hall 211
Material culture is important for the study of globalization and colonialism, both in understanding its present form and for investigating its inception. Based on archaeological studies on the trans-Pacific flow of commodities, this course explored the role of trade and piracy at the threshold of globalization (13th to the 18th century). Instead of focusing on the European explorations, this class focuses on the continuity and transformation in the Asiatic trade network in response to the early global trade.
The investigation is primarily based on the archaeological study of porcelain, which “yields the first and most extensive physical evidence for sustained cultural encounter on a worldwide scale, perhaps even for indications of genuinely global culture.” (Finlay 1998). As one of the most important commodities on the trans-Pacific voyage, following the inauguration of Manila Galleon in 1565, the close association of porcelain production and trade with “international piracy” in traditional historiography present a new angle for understanding the dynamics of the early global trade and industries.
In this student conference, the presentors will trace the movement of trade porcelain from kilns around Chinese trading ports, to shipwrecks and consumer societies.
The presentations, each contains an archaeological component, collectively address these key questions:
• What was the nature of Asiatic trade network prior to the beginning of global trade?
• How was the production and consumption in the Asiatic trade network transformed in the course of emerging global trade?
• What was the role of international piracy in the early global trade and nation building?
• What was the effect of the early global trade on the native societies involved?
• How could the archaeological remains shed light on the grand narrative of globalization?
Highlights of lectures in July:
Asiatic trading network by the 10th century (Belitung and Cirebon wrecks), Quanzhou in the 13th century Asiatic trading network under the Mongolian Empire (Yuan), Admiral Zheng He, the Ming gap and the emergence of overseas factories in Southeast Asia, the pirates of the east China seas and the arrival of the European powers, the transformation of values in the consuming society, changes in consumer society after the emergence of global trade, the piratical production on the China coast, the Zheng family maritime enterprise (Nicholas and Koxinga), the mid-17th century gap and emergence of European and Japan productions, the cultural interaction through porcelain (Chinoiserie in European decorative art), the porcelain consumption, contact epidemic and silver mining in the New World, and archaeology of pirate ships and ports (Fiery Dragon, Port Royale, Isles Saint Marie)
Monday Panels:
Panel 1 The Indian Ocean Trading Network
World Trade in the 10th Century Java: The Cirebon Wreck Sally Wingard
Panel 2 13-14th century
Cultural Exchange in the Pax Mongolica Jeremy Wardle
13th Century City of Quanzhou and the Houzhu Shipwreck David Shlecter
The Decline of Quanzhou in late 14th century Sam Agnoli
Jingdezheng and the Production of Blue-and-white Porcelain Laura Vincent
Panel 3: The Ming Gap and the Rise of Overseas Factories
The Ming Ban on Private Maritime Trade and the Thai Ceramic Production: Perspective from the Turiang Shipwreck Andrew Moran
The Xuande Wreck Site and the 16th century Southeast Asia Andrew Scavone
Wednesday Panels:
Panel 3 (continued ) Lena Shoal and the Hongzhi Revival in Chinese Porcelain Export Mark Sandusky
Penal 4: A moment in the global history of 1600: Case Study on San Diego
A Group Project on San Diego by Kaplan, Whitener, and Everett
Microcosmotic View of Global Encounter in 1600: the San Diego Shipwreck Aaron Kaplan
The San Diego: Through Piracy We Gain Knowledge Noah Whitener
San Diego: topic to be determined Mike Everett
Panel 5: International Competition on the Open Sea
Drake's Landing at California Ben Trachman
Taiwan and the Dutch East India Company Megan Colella
The Binh Thuan Wreck and the VOC Paul Czarnecki
The Pirate Round and Fiery Gragon: Archaeology of a Pirate Shipwreck Ian Barber
THE WHYDAH: Archeological Evidence for Piracy in the 18th Century LaReece Broadus
Paper Abstracts
The Decline of Quanzhou
Sam Agnoli
A lot of factors contributed to the decline of the very influential and active port city, Quanzhou. Although there isn’t one exact factor that led to the decline of Quanzhou, a series of events can be explored to give evidence as to why the activity in Quanzhou was forced to shift to Zhangzhou and the port of Yuegang. Between the depletion of resources by the mass production of porcelain in the dragon kilns, the Ming ban on external trade, and the extremely fostering geological landscaping of the Yuegang port in Zhangzhou, we can examine how much the Ming ban actually impacted maritime trade in Asia. In addition, the shift in the quality of production can be examined, which we can use to see which articles of porcelain material culture were produced illegally in Zhangzhou or at the beginning of the porcelain craze before the Ming dynasty, in Quanzhou.
The Pirate Round and Fiery Gragon: Archaeology of a Pirate Shipwreck Ian Barber
The 17th century is referred to as the golden age of piracy. It was called this due to the flourishing of piracy in the Caribbean, based in Port Royal. The lesser know but equally successful pirates terrorized the Indian Ocean, from the pirate hub around Saint Mary’s island. These pirates attacked a variety of trade ships that passed through the region. The trade ships’ cargo included new world silver, slaves, Chinese porcelain and many other valuable commodities. My presentation will focus on the ship wreck of Christopher Condent’s Fiery Dragon discovered off the coast of Madagascar. My presentation will describe the wreck and the many goods it contained. I will go through the ships contents and where the objects may have been plundered from. I will briefly describe the pirate life of captain Condent and his crew. The reasons behind why the ship was sank and how the second most successful pirate in the Indian Ocean got away with out punishment will be told in the presentation. I will explore the complex social and cultural aspects of piracy during this era. There was a more political side to piracy other than the obvious economic gains.
THE WHYDAH: Archeological Evidence for Piracy in the 18th Century
LaReece Broadus
The whydah was a ship that transported and participated in trade during the Atlantic slave trade. The ship was responsible for transporting slaves to the carribeans and trading them for fine metals that would then be transported back to England. The responsibilities of the whydah help explain its role in global trade. During the golden age of piracy [1625-1725] the Spanish took control over American colonies and the power of their empire depended on the control of the seas. The Spanish gained great wealth from the Native Americans and this caused the England and the French to send pirates to attack the Spanish ships that transported American treasures. As a result of the attacks, Spain lost power of the seas. France and England then took over Spain and international sea trades become a landmark in history. The question of weather pirates actually existed during this time was answered from an archeological perspective with the whydah ship wreck as solid evidence.
Taiwan and the Dutch East India Company
Megan Colella
The history of Taiwan circulates around the battles for ownership over its land by many European and Asia nations. Dominance over this area was crucial to the European and Asian trading networks because it sits at a key location in the middle the maritime trading routes. The Dutch East India Company conquered Taiwan in 1623 and quickly began setting up ports on the coast to facilitate the expansion and control over the European market for Asian goods (Mateo 2001:329-333). From then on Taiwan became a battleground by many nations, including China and Japan. Evidence of Taiwan’s history of conflicts and trading is found in the hundreds of shipwrecks that littler the Taiwan Strait. This paper will focus on the sites that mark evidence of the Dutch rule, Koxinga’s rule, and the Japanese rule over Taiwan and how these governances impacted the evolving history of Taiwan.
Microcosmotic View of Global Encounter in 1600: the San Diego Shipwreck
Aaron Kaplan
As soon as the San Diego pushed off from the small port in Manila, it had one goal in mind. Travel to its destination, unload its cargo, and return back in time for the crew to get paid and load up a fresh cargo. Little did the unfortunate crew and the archaeologists who excavated the ship know, but the ship was and is a microcosm of the global relations in the early seventeenth century. The ship was an example of the integral functions of the various trading nations that contributed to the global trade market at the time. The San Diego tells many different stories of the international relationships and the assimilation that took place through the constant maritime trade. It could be true that the fine Chinese porcelain (found on board the ship), that were stored in southeastern Asian-made, jars were protected by Japanese mercenaries using north African-made weaponry, in order for European aristocracy to present their symbols of wealth to their dinner guests. The global community gathered around the united sense of materialism, and the innate feelings of materialism caused a surge of international assimilation that lead to the progression of the worldwide populace to where we are today. In this paper, I will examine the diverse cargo found in the wreckage of the San Diego and discuss the significance it had to the global trade market and the intricately comprehensive associations that occurred between the thirteenth and seventeenth centuries.
The San Diego: Through Piracy We Gain Knowledge
Noah Whitener
The San Diego was part of the Manila Galleon once a year trade rout between the spanish Phillipeans and the new world. When found on the bottom of the ocean what was uncovered told a very different story. The ship had been converted for battle with cannons from the fort in Manila and had sought out in persuit of pirates. When the superior ship ended up on the bottom of the ocean due to what seems to be a complete breakdown of the commanding officer, we get a unique veiw into the trade and scale of the global market. The goods that were still abord the ship from the trade rout give us a glimps of the materialistic world of the 1600's. Using previous research goods like porcelain can be traced all the way back to where it was produced and its styles can give us a sense of the taste of europeans at the time. Not onlt goods but the weapons that were found tell an interesting story all their own. Through this historic act of piracy against the odds, we further our historical knowledge with solid evidance.
The Ming Ban on Private Maritime Trade and the Thai Ceramic Production: Perspective from the Turiang Shipwreck
Andrew Moran
The Turiang is a ship that sank in the South China Sea, off the coast of peninsular Malaysia. The ship was headed southward towards Borneo as part of an established Chinese trade route. The cargo on board has forced archaeologists to question previous assumptions about the nature of the ming ban on private trade and it’s effect on the aesthetic and style of pottery from kilns at Sukhothai and Si-Satchanalai in Thailand. The wares found on board from Si-Satchanalai date to the middle of the 14th century, which is much earlier than previously assumed start dates for the Thai kilns. The previous assumption is that these kilns started when Chinese potters left China during the ‘Ming ban’ on private ceramic trade. The absence of more advanced celadon wares associated with above ground kilns, and a wreck site dating of 1305-1370 also suggest that though Chinese potters did improve kiln technology after the Ming ban, these sites were already producing their own style of wares, similar to those found in Vietnam. The absence of Chinese Blue and White suggests also that the shipwreck was earlier than 1328, the start date for export of these wares, and further evidence that these kiln sites were in heavy operation decades prior to the Ming ban.
The Binh Thuan Wreck and the VOC
Paul Czarnecki
This paper explores the Binh Thuan Wreck, a Chinese junk ship found some 40 miles of the Southern coast of Vietnam. The wreck has been dated to the early 17th century, and is believed to be a privateered Chinese junk working for the Dutch East India Company (VOC) carrying large amounts of Zhangzhou ceramic ware, often refered to simply as Swatow ware. It is believed that this ship was headed for Johoe where it was to be transshipmed through Indonesia for further redistribution in Southeastern Asia and to European markets as well. The large amount of Swatow ware was made in the city of Zhangzhou and was soley for export. By examining details of the cargo contained in the wreck, this paper aims to discuss the spatial and temporal contexts with which this wreck existed. The Binh Thuan Wreck illustrates the interesting role the Dutch had already established in the early 17th century. Not only were the Dutch ambitous, free trade seeking entrapaneaurs, but they were also played highly integrated role in the trade networks of Asia as intermediates, which served to profit off the instability of trade within China and between China and Taiwan in particular.
This paper also addreses the Zheng family enterprise, which consisted of Zhilong (Nicholas) and his son Koxinga, and there role in Asiatic trade during the early to mid 16th century. Zheng Zhilong was a private merchant and pirate, given official title by the Chinese government in an effort to dispell the problem of piracy common to the day. The practice of appointing pirates an offical government role and title to help suppress the piracy problem was a very common practice of the day, and was often circular in nature in that soon after a pirate was given a title, a new pirate would come along and overthrow the former, and he himself be granted a governemnt role in quieting piracy. For years the Zheng family operated in the pirate hotspot and large ceramic production city of Zhangzhou, in which much of the ceramic onboard this VOC owned Chinese junk ship was produced. This paper serves to examine the contents of this wreck in order to better understand the trade that the Dutch had negotiated with the Chinese, and also to examine the dynamic nature of Asiatic trade during the day, in which the Dutch held a solid yet in a way bothersome, infiltrating role to the Chinese, and which was further complicated by the Zheng family and the policies they enforced when it came to trade and piracy.
The Xuande Wreck Site and the 16th century Southeast Asia Andrew Scavone
Southeast Asia in the 16th century was a highly competitive maritime trading network that offered little to protect the traders, who often dabbled in piracy themselves, in terms of rules or regulations. Chinese porcelain was one of many important commodities heavily traded during the time period, and due to its ability to endure hundreds of years of submersion when its carrying ships wrecked in the waters of Southeast Asia, can now provide clues when uncovered as to the state of the maritime economy at the time. The Xuande site is particularly interesting in this aspect. The ship is believed to have sunk around 1550 off the coast of Malaysia. The site contains no remnants of the ship’s hull but does contain the porcelain carried by the ship. The ship carried no celadon, despite the fact that it had come from Thailand. This clue, along with an examination of the other cargo can reveal interesting facts about the changes in the economy that were taking place at that particular time.
13th Century City of Quanzhou and the Houzhu Shipwreck David Shlecter
Studying one particular city and shipwreck will help piece together South East Asia and the maritime trading during the 13th and 14th century. The research available shows very interesting information about the city that involves the shipwreck, in which you cannot understand one without the other. This city was home to many clans and families, some that were very prosperous and influencial. It was the home to the largest trading port in
the world at the time and had a very large population. The shipwreck of Houzhu was owned by a clan and was sunk on purpose, for political reasons. Quanzhou had many integrated cultures and religions and was a large part of a vast empire of trading routes that stretched all the way to the Indian Ocean. I am particularly going to focus on the height of Quanzhou’s political influence in terms of maritime trading, and how this shipwreck was directly involved in the political difficulties of the time.
Drake's Landing at California Ben Trachman
Sir Francis Drake, navigator and privateer, is one of the greatest English sea-captains
of all time. Revered as a hero in the fight against the Armada and despised as an upstart
by the old nobility, Drake epitomizes the self-made Elizabethan privateer, rapacious in
the hunt for treasure but daring and visionary in exploration. It has been argued by
archaeologists as to whether or not Drake in fact visited California. This paper will
focus on the voyages made by Drake for his Queen as well as provide evidence from both
sides to support where exactly Drake landed. I will then provide my own take on the
subject.
Jingdezheng and the Production of Blue-and-white Porcelain
Laura Vincent
Jingdezhen is a city long known for it’s heritage in porcelain production. This paper will focus on the ceramic production during the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368) when blue and white porcelain was first produced in Jingdezhen. It is believed that blue and white porcelain was first made in Jingdezhen after 1325 and this paper will focus on that time and after on how the blue and white porcelain production began, how it impacted Jingdezhen society, and how Jingdezhen porcelain traveled in the world through the examination of ship wreck cargo which includes early Jingdezhen blue and white porcelain pieces. Jingdezhen has a fascinating history in the porcelain industry and I hope to reveal much about the early blue and white market of Jingdezhen through this paper.
Cultural Exchange in the Pax Mongolica
Jeremy Wardle
The Mongolian conquests of the 13th century resulted in the largest empire in the history of mankind. While the empire would soon fragment into four distinct entities (Yuan Dynasty, “Golden Horde,” Chaghadai Khanate, Ilkhanate) the relative stability brought about by common practices of administration and the military might of the Mongolian armies enabled unprecedented trade and travel across Asia. This paper will examine the cultural exchange between China and the Middle East facilitated by the so called Pax Mongolica. Several case studies of specific artifacts will be used along with evidence from both historical and archaeological records to demonstrate a bilateral exchange of technology and culture made possible by the unique circumstances that existed under the Mongol administration of Asia.
World Stage in the 10th Century Java: The Cirebon Wreck Sally Wingard
Around 2004, a ship off the coast of Cirebon was discovered along with many ceramics, gemstones, and other various raw materials from China, India, Sri Lanka, Java, and Afghanistan. This paper connects this ship from the 10th century to the history of trade going on between Java, India, China, and Arabia to try and get a better understanding of the wreck. Java had been trading with other countries since before 500 B.C. and in the 10th century, the area witnessed a boom in sea trade due to the movement of the Mataram Kingdom to East Java. The wreck contains many ceramics imitating the Chinese style since the area was highly influenced by their artwork. Most importantly the wreck depicts how much global interaction was going on at this time and how it impacted many cultures.
Posted by limz at August 3, 2007 04:16 PM