Question

Article 4 of the treaty is best explained as evidence of how states in the period 1450-1750 sought to;

A- suppress resistance to their rule by co-opting local groups
B- grant military titles as a way of encouraging the loyalty of their subjects
C- provide financial incentives to minority populations to participate in local administration
D- promote intermarriage between different ethnic populations in order to reduce conflict

Answer 1

Article 4 of a treaty from the period 1450-1750 is indicative of how states aimed to suppress resistance and ensure loyalty by co-opting local groups, managing their sovereignty over diverse populations, and expanding territorial control with political and economic strategies.

Step-by-step explanation:

Article 4 of the treaty during the period 1450-1750 is best interpreted as evidence of states seeking to suppress resistance to their rule by co-opting local groups. This was a common strategy where colonial and tribal leaders would promote harmony by encouraging respect for treaty agreements, seeking to integrate different societies and ensuring their cooperative management of the territories. In the context of the expansion and emergence of nation-states in Europe, treaties were often used to secure peace and define sovereignty, but also to manage diverse populations, ensuring political control and economic benefits without major disruptions to local customs and practices.

For instance, European powers established 'unequal treaties' with states they engaged with. Great Britain's interactions with India through the East India Company illustrate this approach. They offered the carrot of access to international markets, backed by the military force they wielded, demonstrating a mix of economic incentives and political co-option.

These practices were reflective of the general tactics adopted by burgeoning Eurocentric powers to control large territories and diverse populations to expand their influence and ensure the stability of their growing empires.