When European powers like Spain, Portugal, and Britain conquered the Americas, it gave them access to global trade networks. Japan also grew in power thanks to its richly filled silver mines. From the mid-16th century to the early 18th century, this increase in conquests helped the Spanish increase their silver production and the Japanese also had direct access to silver mines, which contributed to their initial economies but has only worsened the conditions of the low country. exploited class individuals. This in turn led to economic influences that weakened the power of nations like China and Spain, who originally profited from the silver trade by receiving and exchanging silver; however, Europe quietly rose above other nations through its initial sway in the silver trade. Spain initially benefited from access to silver in the Americas, but over time the American Indians experienced hardship which increased with the value of silver and later China and the Philippines . benefited more than them. Tomas de Mercado, a Spanish academic (Doc 2), explained that Spain could not benefit from access to silver because it was imported into Chinese regions through the port of Manila, where investments actually remained. Their economies could not improve because other regions benefited more, such as the Philippine Islands, which they conquered, and China, which received the money. Antonio Vasquez de Espinosa, a Spanish priest, is another person who defends the social aspect of Spain not profiting from the silver trade. He wrote that Potosi, a silver mine, was mined for its natural minerals, but in doing so it also became home to horrible working conditions for miners (Doc 6). The Native American...... middle of paper ......cooked on the economic principles that define his nation. This helps him draw a good conclusion as to why Europe should continue this trade network, even if it only gets luxury goods from it. He looks at all angles, because he sees the value of this choice to foster cultural ties and help their economy. From the mid-16th century to the beginning of the 18th century, the conquest of the Americas and the discovery of silver brought peasants from the interior there. and the class exploitation of Native Americans that harmed their economic situation and lowered their social standing; Likewise, China and Spain, countries that originally benefited from silver trade networks, were slowly affected by the global flow of silver. However, the Europeans seized this moment to slowly rise above the rest and show their clear European advantage..