The Impacts of the Columbian Exchange Essay example

The Columbian Exchange has been called the â€Å"greatest human intervention in nature since the invention of agriculture† (Grennes 2007). The exchange of diseases, plants, and animals lead to a global cultural and economic shift throughout the Old and New Worlds following Christopher Columbus discovery of the Americas in 1492. The Eastern Hemisphere saw an influx of raw materials, new staple crops, and the income from and production of growing crops that were too resource intensive for Europe and Asia. The Western Hemisphere saw large scale population shifts, massive devastation accompanying colonization, and a significant change in the ecosystem with the introduction of new, sometimes invasive, plants and animals. This exchange had one†¦show more content†¦Knowledge of circular current wind patterns made sailing long distances substantially easier and less labor intensive. The Old World began to travel farther and farther by the ocean. In this sense, it was inevitab le that the Old World and the New World should collide. Columbus took advantage of this sea-ward gaze and the Spanish desire to exercise their power, acquire resources, and extend the reach of Christianity. In hindsight, Columbus original intention to sail to India an obvious and major miscalculation but the mere action of crossing the Atlantic turned â€Å"a barrier into a bridge† (Horan). Upon Columbus arrival, the European advantage became evident: gunpowder weaponry, use of horses for military and transportation, and iron weapons, tools, and armor. While European advantage was evident, the consequences of the transmittal of plants, animals, and diseases could not have been forseen. The Spanish conquistador Cortà ©s advised the King of Spain to send all ships with plants and animals (Grennes 2007). This recommendation comes from the large quantities of land suitable for farming crops that were in demand in Europe, such as sugar. Crops of the New World required different soil composition, weather and growing season demands, and cultivation techniques than Old World crops. Growth of crops from the Old and New World (in many, but not all cases) complemented rather than competed with each other. This is due to the large North/South span of bothShow MoreRelatedImpact Of The Columbian Exchange909 Words   |  4 PagesThe Columbian Exchange was an event that was very impactful on modern day. The Columbian Exchange was the widespread trade of plants, animals, guns, and diseases. It occured between the Americas, Africa, and Europe. Exa mples of products that the Americas contributed are turkey, squash, and potatoes. Examples of products that Europe contributed are horses, sugar, and smallpox. Columbian exchange was a huge impact on our modern day world because it changed war and hunting, it introduced new ingredientsRead MoreImpact Of The Columbian Exchange970 Words   |  4 PagesCrosby used the term â€Å"Columbian Exchange† for this significant event. In general, the Columbian Exchange has not only changed Europeans and Native Americas ways of life but also helped to shape the world today. First of all, the changes in agriculture has a great impact on both the Old World and the New in terms of culture and economy. The popular New World crops such as maize, white potatoes, sweet potatoes, and manioc travel to the Old Worlds during the Columbian Exchange. Thanks to the suitableRead MoreCultural Impact Of The Columbian Exchange1153 Words   |  5 PagesThe Columbian Exchange brought direct changed that modified the cultural characteristics of many people. Though religion was a weapon of domination, it was food that created a great cultural impact. This paper will focus on the cultural impact that food had in the world, and how much Native American food contributed to the economy and culture of the entire planet. The Columbian Exchange started after Christopher Columbus’ â€Å"discovery† in 1942 of a New World. This discovery lent to the entire WesternRead MoreThe Cultural Impacts Of The Columbian Exchange775 Words   |  4 PagesThe Columbian Exchange By definition, the Columbian Exchange is described as the transatlantic flow of goods, people, and diseases, beginning with Christopher Columbus’s voyages and discovery of the New World in 1492. (Give Me Liberty!) This interpretation, however, does not give this event the acknowledgement it deserves, as the effects of this complex transaction made a significant impact of the modern history of the world. It completely shaped the world humans live in today, from the languagesRead MorePositive And Negative Impacts Of The Columbian Exchange1271 Words   |  6 PagesThe Columbian exchange has helped to double the world’s population between 1650 and 1850. The exchange introduced to the new and old worlds to a variety of things that undoubtedly has shaped the world in time that followed. The Columbian Exchange refers the time that resulted after Christopher Columbus and other explorers discovered the land that would become known as the Americas and many islands, such as Berm uda and the Caribbean. This age of exploration and discovery introduced the newly discoveredRead MoreThe Impact Of The Columbian Exchange On The New World1051 Words   |  5 PagesAfter the discovery of the New World, a new era opened that would come to be known as the Columbian Exchange. With the transfer of plants, animals, culture, diseases, and ideas between Europe and the Americas, good came from the Columbian Exchange which became a possibility after Christopher Columbus set sail in 1492, giving him full credit for this duration. The plants associated with the Columbian Exchange affected the Old and New Worlds by providing success in agriculture as well as technologicalRead MoreSocial Impact Of The Columbian Exchange937 Words   |  4 PagesThe Columbian Exchange, derived from the voyages of Columbus to the Americas, was a chapter in history that connected the Old World to the New World by exchanging crops, culture, and technology. The Columbian Exchange in the Western Hemisphere resulted in extensive demographic, social, economic, and environmental changes. The arrival of Europeans to Native American land produced an intense mixture of culture and population fluctuation. Not only did this exchange affect the social aspect between theRead MoreImpact Of The Columbian Exchange On The New World Essay1570 Words   |  7 Pagesa few years he took down the Aztec Empire, which opened the door for other explorers to invade the new world as well in their hopes of finding gold as well. 3. Describe what the Columbian Exchange was, and list examples. - The Columbian Exchange was a worldwide transfer of plants, animals, and diseases. Before Columbian Exchanged certain foods were not in European meals such as, corn, potatoes, and different kinds of beans – (kidney, lima), peanuts, and peppers. The same for the Native AmericansRead MoreImpact Of Native American Life Before The Columbian Exchange1724 Words   |  7 Pagesexperience was completely different than the Native Americans and because of this one sided record our history books and accounts are bias which we need to remember and consider when talking about this time period. Columbian Exchange Impact- The Columbian Exchange refers to the exchange of ideas, plants, food, diseases, animals, people, technology, and culture between Europe, the Americas, and Africa which followed Christopher Columbuss voyages to the Americas from between 1492 to 1504. The transferRead MoreAmerica Before Columbus And The Columbian Exchange1597 Words   |  7 Pagesthe fact that it was not merely the arrival of conquistadors and colonists that irrevocably changed the landscape of the Americas, but that it was also the coined term known as the â€Å"Columbian Exchange† that afforded these travelers the ability to proliferate so successfully. The basic definition of the Columbian exchange is one that defines the importation of European flora and fauna. It could also loosely represent other imports, both intended and unintended, such as tools, implements, and even disease