Sub-Saharan Africa and East Asia

Trade has affect countries of the world throughout history. During 1750 to the present global trade patterns have affected Sub-Saharan Africa and East Asia by changing the area's economy and political structure but continued to influence the area's culture.

In Sub-Sahara Africa from 1750 to 1914 the Atlantic Slave Trade had come to an end but the Islamic states of West Africa still traded slaves because they relied on the slave trade more than the other stated. As this continued it led to the Europeans colonizing Africa because of the economic slump that left it open for foreign invasion. While mercantilism occurred in the former colonies, poverty streaked the countries because Europeans were on a quest to exploit African resources and outmaneuver their rivals. By 1914 almost all of Africa was carved up by European powers. It had been transformed into a monoculture of clash crops and mines of precious metals such as gold and diamonds. The Africans had enough of this and began to fight for their independence which most countries got after the mid-1950s. In addition to this re-colonization of Africa was occurring during 1750 to 1914. Also at this time coastal kingdoms were being ruled by warlords and merchants, this led to intertribal war also known as revolutions because the people wanted to be ruled by their own native people not foreigners. Later on Africa was involved in WWII which steered renewed independence efforts and civil wars began to arise because of government corruption and socialism.

In 1750, East Asia, too, was agriculturally based and isolated from global trade. The Tokugawa Shogunate in Japan did little to industrialize the nation or open its markets to foreigners. However, that all changed dramatically when Commodore Perry, used "gunboat diplomacy," opened Japan to the West. The mid 1800's Japan, noting China's predicament with Westerners decided that reform was better than colonization by foreigners. This reform program was most effective under the Meiji government following the Meiji restoration. Industrialization was put in place, and economic changes were made to allow outside trade. As a result, Japan quickly became a military and economic power in East Asia. Following the Meiji restoration, Japan began a policy of militarism and imperialism. By 1936, Japan had already fought China, annexed Korea and was preparing to attack China