Good Latin American Civilization Essay Example

The market economy of Salvador in the 18th and 19th C was characterized by existing structure, distribution and sale of foodstuffs. The market structure was diverse in terms of the type of commodities as well as people. The participants, including street vendors, grocers, Portuguese merchants, butchers, cattle dealers, freed Africans found it easy to handle trade and finances owing to the basic nature of the market. The existing structure, participation distribution and sale of foodstuffs was rudimentary highlighting a simple economic chain.
The unique reflection of Salvador market economy manifest an aspect of food market that relied on the consumption of meat. As the main staple in the economy composite of the food trade, the rudimentary type of market system did not deal with aspects of commodities like insurance and insurance.
The food trade and traders in Brazil’s Salvador represent a Latin American civilization process. As a triangular trading network between Africa, Europe and America, it is evident that the archives of licenses for trade estate inventories, shopkeepers and street vendors to engage in the extensive and lucrative trade. The manifestation of the Salvadorian society informs a perspective of business practice, the relationship of the participants and the commodities traded. Through food trade, the underlying principle of slave exploitation is identified with blacks and whites, Portuguese, Brazilian and Africans, as well as slaves found it viable to interact at a personal level.
The evolution of trade within the spectrum of liberal economy characterized street vendors to be composed of women with the possibility of climbing up the social ladder. The most striking example is that of a street vendor who was from West Africa, sold as a slave and engaged in trade ending up as a free person with a shop and other slaves. The influences of Adam Smith’s economic principles constructs the logic that the trade in Salvador succeeded is anchored on the belief that fosters the relationship image of patronage, commerce and economic regulation.
The stereotypical structure of the caste system represents the understanding of a mundane but significant role that free men and women as well as slaves play in the social advancement and economic opportunities. The trade practices captured the principle of such a network to engage in the supply of food products that leverage the political trajectory of the 19th C giving rise to the outcome of the liberal market economy.
Accordingly, it is evident that in Salvador, slaves had remarkably autonomy as individuals. This characteristic helped the provision of entrepreneurial system, energy and success. In light of this, it is plausible to note that slaves ordinarily hired themselves on a regular basis as vendors and laborers generating revenue for themselves and their masters. This informs the trajectory for the accumulation of wealth that made them buy their freedom and preserve their social hierarchy.
The range of business activities that were established managed to construct a trading bloc and partnership that fed the city with all manner of foodstuffs including, fresh fruits, meat, manioc and vegetables as well as prepared food. The credit facilities form the Portuguese merchants established the mechanisms for business process. Accordingly, it is imperative to note that the emergence of the centralized market for cattle and grain demonstrated a complex process that brought food into Bahia thereby disseminating it throughout Salvador. This points to the impact of economic liberalism that informs the regulations of sales from foodstuff. The rudimentary trade structure reveal the importance of business networks responsible for the economic and social hierarchy of Salvador.

Bibliography

Coutin, Susan. Nations of Emigrants: Shifting Boundaries of Citizenship in El Salvador and the United States. Cornell University Press, 2007
Graham, Richard. Feeding the city. From street market to liberal reform in Salvador. Brazil. 1780-1860. University of Texas Press, 2010