Timothy Brook in his book Vermeer’s Hat demonstrates seventeenth-century trade and attributes the networks formed in its efforts, to the dawn of globalization. Brook strategically picks pieces done by the infamous Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer to depict the effects of trade on people. Brook gives compelling accounts of traders in their endeavors bringing the paintings alive in every story. The author chose to represent the changes in local values and customs of trade using seven paintings of Vermeer. Brook explains these issues using short stories that tell tales of brave merchants and great kingdoms that resolved to overcome these challenges for the sole purpose of trade also he talks about how certain commodities impacted a large amount of people everywhere around the world. certain commodities change local values and customs. Porcelain, tobacco, and silver were some of the most popular commodities being exchanged during that time periods. …show more content…
Brook states, “Tobacco traveled to China by three routes: an eastward Portuguese route from Brazil to to Macao, a westward Spanish route from Mexico to Manila, and a third route that consisted of a series of hops around East Asia to Beijing” (Brook pg.132.) Everyone started using tobacco which created a web of trade around the world. People started using tobacco for all types of things. For instance, some people used tobacco for spiritual callings. ““Native Americans used tobacco to move between the natural and the supernatural world and to communicate with the spirits. Smoking helped to get the spirits’ attention, since the spirits loves the smell of burning tobacco, and it helped to get the communicant in the right frame of mind” (Brook pg. 124.) The Natives changed the way tobacco was used. They added nicotine to their content. The nicotine added psychotropic effects. Smoking began to influence people everywhere. Tobacco became a medical and religious property in this