Reading Response - Essay Example

Response Paper Response Paper The article ‘A Taste of Empire 1600-1800’ is written by James Walvin1 (Walvin 1997). I believe that James in the article illustrates about Asian crops such as sugar, tobacco and tea that British nation has become addictive. In the article, the author argues that these crops have created an imperial invasion on the Europeans. The global trade of the European nations during 1600-1800 rooted bloomed trading of cheap good from the other part of the world rather than European colonies.

On the other hand, the article ‘Brewing up Strom’ by Promeraz and Topik argues that voyages lead to the global trade which allowed other goods from Asian countries, particularly tea in becoming part of the European culture2 (Topik 2006). Topik in his article highlights that the revolutionary boom and the voyages boost the trade of cheap drug food like tea in the European region. With the passage of time, people become excessively addictive of tea. On the other hand, James states that the expansion of global trade made cheap goods like tea available to people and they became fashion symbols.

I am of the view that James in the article emphasizes on the West Indians of East India Company and salves were the reason for making people addictive, whereas Topik in his article states that the control of the production of the tea plantation was the major issue, and trade of cheap products. In my opinion, both articles present the same idea that the global trade made tea one of the most significant and most widely used commodities. In addition, the adaptation and accessibility of these commodities made tea common in the people.

There is a minor difference in the idea presented by the authors. James talks more tea as an imperial commodity whereas, Topik talks about the trade and slavery as a cause for tea to become a common commodity.BIBLIOGRAPHYTopik, Pomeranz. "Brewing Up a Strom." In The World that Trade Created: Society Culutre, and th World Economy, 1400 to the present, 77-80. New York: Sharpe Inc, 2006.Walvin, James. "A Taste of Empire, 1600-1800." In History Today, 11-16. New York, 1997.