EAS103H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Soba, Chili Pepper, Francis Xavier
Document Summary
Samurai: only 7% overall population, but large portion of cities, some struggled with money. Chonin: merchants/ craftsmen, entrepreneurs with many profit-making models, major influence on publishing, arts, popular culture (puppet culture, urban literature, etc. ) Soba was the most popular street food in edo for 300 years. Soba sold at mobile stalls that were hand carried; not found anywhere else in the world. Connection: migration of the samurai contributed to the commercial enhancement of soba noodles. Barbarians and business: rise of silver economy, western presence, asia-europe-americas, european missionaries. Trade networks before europe enters the scene: since rise of islam in7th century commercial system centered on indian ocean, flow of knowledge/products: Details travel of korean merchant who go to beijing. Smuggling silver: paper money collapsed @ beginning of ming, return to metal currency. 80% of currency was coming from europe; silver was driving this trade of luxury items in china.
