Global Commerce

I thought the most interesting part of the reading was learning about the Portuguese Empire and explorers. In the beginning of the European and Asian Commerce section it spoke of Columbus and Portuguese explorers. They spoke of how Columbus accidentally came across the Americas but the Portuguese discovering Asia was a different stories. They were on a decade long escapade to find a good sea route to the east. They sailed down the coast of west Africa, around the southern tip, and back up the east coast until they discovered India.
     Global Commerce started a huge expansion of world trade. In the early modern era furs, silvers, textiles and spices were introduced as major items of global commerce. Since fur became so popular, fur-bearing animals population started to diminish. Animals such as beavers, rabbits, sable, marten and deer. I think using poor animals just for our own selfish profit is wrong. Shows how much things have changed over time. By 1500 everyone was wearing fur coats. A surprised visitor from Venice observed, "The weather is bitterly cold and everyone is in furs although we are almost in July". Fur coats were the thing to have.