HIS 1110 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Peruvian Amazon, Bicycle Tire, Tortoiseshell
Document Summary
From 1874 to 1914, britain, france, japan, germany, belgium, russia, portugal and the. United states claimed more than 23 million sq km. Quinine (allowed europeans into tropical areas, like a vaccine) 1879-1912: people were enslaved to gather wild rubber (although slavery was abolished in peru in 1855) Death toll: or 32 000 were worked to death, leaving only 8000 survivors among the amerindians. Arana, owner of the company, knew the wild rubber supply was diminishing but he established a quota system for gatherers and had severe punishments for those who didn"t meet them. Roger casement compiled a report on the atrocity, finding that those who did not meet the quota were often flogged to death and/or had their crops burned. Explorer who made claims for king leopold ii of belgium. First european to navigate the congo river. Commissioned to obtain treaties from the locals. Inhabitants couldn"t read or understand what they were.