Final Answer:
In 1600, Japan began trading silver for foreign goods.
Step-by-step explanation:
Japan's engagement in international trade during the 17th century was marked by the establishment of the Tokugawa shogunate, a period known as the Edo period. In 1600, with the Battle of Sekigahara, Tokugawa Ieyasu emerged victorious, leading to the consolidation of political power. This marked the beginning of the Tokugawa shogunate, a time of relative peace and stability in Japan.
During this period, the Tokugawa shogunate implemented a policy of sakoku, which restricted foreign influence and trade. However, exceptions were made for limited foreign trade, primarily conducted through the port of Nagasaki. One significant aspect of this trade was the exchange of Japanese silver, extracted from mines in places like Iwami Ginzan, for foreign goods.
The demand for Japanese silver, particularly from European powers like the Portuguese and later the Dutch, played a crucial role in maintaining a level of international exchange despite Japan's overall policy of isolation. This trade not only facilitated economic transactions but also contributed to the flow of cultural and technological influences between Japan and the outside world, albeit within the confines of the sakoku policy.
The trading of silver for foreign goods became a key element in Japan's early modern economic interactions with the global community.