Historian Reacts - History Summarized: The Portuguese Empire by Overly Sarcastic Productions
Вставка
- Опубліковано 20 лют 2024
- Overly Sarcastic Productions: • History Summarized: Th...
Discord: / discord
Twitch: / ryanpeteslive
Gaming Channel: / @ryanpetesvods
Main Channel: / @ryanpetersonreacts
#HistorianReacts #Portugal #OSP #Reaction
Links:
Discord: discord.gg/r2WeevN3Ua
Twitch: www.twitch.tv/ryanpeteslive
Gaming Channel: ua-cam.com/channels/q93DC9Jrmz_tQY9jakgouA.html
Main Channel: ua-cam.com/channels/A0d4wih_ecEWiLjy0Ws4Tg.html
We cannot see the past through the eyes of the present. Surely we agree that the era of colonialism had several consequences at social levels, however, we must admit that what Portugal did, sailing across the high seas for months on end without knowing what they would find, is insanely courageous
One aspect I felt was lacking in this otherwise great summary was the Triangle Trade, which Portugal kind of came up with. But Blue tackled it in "Early Atlantic Exploration", which essentially covers the 15th century voyages by Spain and Portugal. Also, his HS on Brazil is very good.
I'm sorry but your last comment is simplistic. You need to analyze the actions taking into consideration the reality and values of the time. Many things we do today about which we are absolutely certain that are great will be looked with despise 100 or 200 years in the future.
Now, this does not mean that during the sea exploration and colonialism there wasn't many horrible things done by today standards, because there was, namely the slave trade. But back then it was what was considered normal.
Before the Europeans even traded one African slave, the Europeans themselves were being hunted by Muslims pirates in the Mediterranean and Atlantic coast and tuned into slaves for many centuries. European women were traded as sexual objects and small young boys turned into soldiers. Portugal still has many castles, fortifications and watchtowers from the 12th to the 15th century century on the coast as a defensive line against Muslim Pirates. If you go back, Romans used slaves, Greeks too, etc. The same in every single continent.
Plus, when the Portuguese got to Africa slavery and slave trade was an established and common thing among the African cultures. In fact it was the African kingdoms that proposed to the Portuguese the trade of slaves captured among their enemies. It was the African that hunted themselves to sell the slaves to Europeans on the coast. So, slavery was absolute normal back then. Slavery wasn't even an intended thing for Portuguese invested in exploration. The goal were trading the Asian spices, silk and other valuable goods.
I recommend the following video from a highly respected black American Historian about the truths about slavery never told to the americans; THOMAS SOWELL - FACTS ABOUT SLAVERY THEY DIDN'T TEACH IN SCHOOL: ua-cam.com/video/lyPWjjWs7-w/v-deo.html
Nothing that I said is an excuse for the horrible things that happened, simply an explanation of why it happened. In many cases you'll discover that the crimes pointed to the Europeans were not made with evil in mind. It was the accepted and normal system back then basically worldwide.
Romans and Greek are glorified despite being brutal, implacable and cruel societies. Vikings were also murderous thieves who also used slaves are are looked as heroes. Genghis Khan is admired as a conqueror and empire builder but he used to literally kill absolutely everyone (adults, children and babies) and even all animal of cities that dared to oppose him. People are amazed by the Aztecs which rank first when it comes to human cruelty, with children sacrifices by hundreds of thousands turned into public spectacles and much more. But apparently their slaves, cruelty and conquests are exempt from criticism. Double standards I call it.