In what ways did European powers and Arab traders gain wealth from Southeast Asia?

European powers and Arab traders gain wealth from Southeast Asia through taking advantage of their colonial rule in the region. This made them control the people and resources such as rubber, precious stones, ivory and animal skins etc. This made those precious materials readily available to them at little or no cost. The products were then sold to other countries to make more money or taken to their home country for use.

Forests resources such as timber were also controlled by the colonial masters which was also exported and used to make a variety of products.

think its caste system

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