Things that are overpriced

Quote: Gandler

We only know that because it was the only crop they could profitably grow at the time. If this was not an option other crops may have been discovered. But, yeah Spain would have a much larger grip on the Americas if tobacco did not exist (my suspicion, obviously historical speculation).

Would North America and the Carribean be better off with more Spain and France and less England? That is debatable. At the end of the day they all colonized for profit (as did everyone else including the Native tribes, I am not saying that as a negative ot positive, just a historic fact). Spain and England were just probably the best at it (and maybe the Ottomans).

Quote: AZDuffman

And the other crops might have had worse effects. The point is tobacco was the first viable cash crop. If not for it what became the 13 colonies would have just been poor farming areas like in Russia. Or for that matter, what became Latin America. I saw it put well once that Spain colonized for gold but England colonized for profitable products that built their GNP. And that is why the Spanish failed long term.

Where did the Ottomas colonize in the Americas?

Quote: Gandler

I was saying England and Spain were the best at colonies with Ottomans as an honorable runner up. Globally, not just America. But, yes in America's, Spain and England did the best, with only a handful of other countries having relatively minor territory (France, Portugal, Netherlands).

Without tobacco other crops would have emerged. Or maybe not, and maybe North America would be leas sought after. It's all historical speculation. But, they wanted the land, and tobacco just gave them a financial justification so my guess is England would have made it work.

Quote: AZDuffman

The Ottomans did not really colonize unless you consider annexing neighboring

It is doubtful it would have worked without another cash crop. Tobacco cash fueled other development. Colonies are not really profitable unless you can integrate them into a larger system.

Quote:

n 2014 and 2015, the LADWP put 96 million shade balls onto its largest reservoir (Las Virgenes)[5] in response to the United States Environmental Protection Agency's surface water treatment rule,[6] which requires large reservoirs of treated water to be covered.[7][8] The LADWP says that in addition to reducing evaporation, they also reduce UV radiation by-products and algae growth.[9] The balls saved 1.7 million cubic metres of water from evaporating during their deployment from August 2015 to March 2017. However, they required 2.9 million cubic metres of water in their manufacture. Nevertheless, the balls have a lifespan of ten years, and the plastic may be reused after that.

Quote: Gandler

Quote: AZDuffman

The Ottomans did not really colonize unless you consider annexing neighboring

It is doubtful it would have worked without another cash crop. Tobacco cash fueled other development. Colonies are not really profitable unless you can integrate them into a larger system.

That is quite literally colonization, they just managed to stay (mostly) contiguous. But, they has impressive expansion, and managed to hold it until WWI when their empire was carved up.

Quote: AZDuffman

Quote: Gandler

Quote: AZDuffman

The Ottomans did not really colonize unless you consider annexing neighboring

It is doubtful it would have worked without another cash crop. Tobacco cash fueled other development. Colonies are not really profitable unless you can integrate them into a larger system.

That is quite literally colonization, they just managed to stay (mostly) contiguous. But, they has impressive expansion, and managed to hold it until WWI when their empire was carved up.

I would consider that expansionism, not colonization.