Imagine two neighbours: one is a great baker, the other a skilled gardener. Even if the baker could also grow tomatoes, they’d both be better off if the baker focuses on bread and swaps some loaves for the gardener’s ripe tomatoes. During the 19th century, something similar happened across continents — but the outcome, for many, was not a shared feast. This chapter explores how deeper trade links, falling shipping costs, and colonial rule reshaped economies, pulling some regions away from manufacturing and into a narrow role as raw‑material suppliers.