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1. How important were economic factors in explaining the colonisation of South east asia by the West in the 19th century? Economic factors: 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Colonies = profit †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Desire for profit since earliest Spanish colonization -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Dutch and British trade and profit motivated -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  although America and France had different motivations colonies needed to access raw materials eg tin in Malaya access to China, most proftiable market in Asia, given by colonisation of Vietnam 2.1 Merchant pressure Need to ensure trade concessions Some states reneged on trade agreements, eg. Burma Frequent attempts made by British to ensure King's cooperation, sent Residents, but King ignored all agreements, even extorted from merchants. Therefore merchants put pressure on Crown government to colonise Burma, only way for them to retain privileges and concessions. 2.2. Economic momentum - Led to competition among merchants for bigger markets - Competition caused by imperialist profit-gaining More concessions wanted once they are given - imperialism and trade factors had culmulative effect 3. Safeguarding Trade and Stability Anarchy and instablity disrupted trade, colonisation helped prevent this. eg. Burma King Thibaw was a weak king, responsible for anarchy eg. Tonkin Black flags from China caused trade disruption made protecterate by French Pirate bases colonised too. Pirates attacked trade vessels. eg. Aceh, colonised by Dutch 4. Economic Competition Placed importance on economic dominance mutal fear of losing out to one another in trade. Only colonisation gave solid footing in region and a share in trade eg. possiblity of Germany's interest in acuquring Northern Malaya concerned British eg. King Thibaw of Burma gave many trade concessions to French, British annexed Burma paritally to shut French out. 5. New markets for goods 1870s onwards, more and more European countries industrialising. Competition existed among European countries.Imposed tariffs on imported goods to protect embryonic industries. So Euro countries looked to cheaper Asian markets to sell goods and acquire raw materials. Political factors: 1. Status and Prestige France equaled acquistion of Indochina with increased prestige This due to past humiliation from defeat in Franco-Prussian war, produced great determination to retain prestige in rest of world through colonisation. 2. Protection of existing empire good example would be British colonisation of Arakan in Burma and later rest of Burma. Done to prevent turmoil in Burma from 'spilling over' into adjacent India, their empire. Would have serious implications on trade Proximity to 'turbulent frontiers' enough. Eg. Strife in Perak/Selangor. Secret society conflicts spread to Chinese secret societies in Straits Settlements branches. Protection from other European countries. Colonisation of Burma due to fear that French would border India if it gained control of it. Idealogical factors: 1. Religious reasons France and Spain French colonised Vietnam to protect French missionaries from persecution of Emperor Tu Duc.