Columbian Exchange Essay Example for Free

Columbian Exchange EssayThe term Columbian Exchange refers to the large-scale exchange of animals, plants, goods, diseases and people between the senior and New Worlds. This event is one of the to a greater extent significant events of all-time as it marks the beginning of the modern era of history. Not only were primaeval Americans greatly impacted by the Columbian Exchange as it brought them devastation and catastrophe, but the Europeans were also touched as they benefited from the precious metals and agriculture they received. This exchange helps to explain why Europe was able to rise, prosper and go on to become a super power. The devastation of the Natives led to a great demand for fight which was met with the enslavement of approximately 12 million Africans over a 400 year period. While Africans were be sold as slaves and the Native Americans were being decimated by diseases introduced to them from the Old World, European nations took advantage of the depopulation and weakening of different cultures and more than likely had an easier time conquering this New World because of the diseases they spread.The exchange of foods and spices to Europe introduced foods like potatoes, tomatoes, and clavus which became staples in European diet. These foods helped improve nourishment and vitamin intake and in turn led to an overall high level of health amongst European people. ..This happened in no place that we could learn, but where we had been(Thomas Hariot, 1589). The transfer of disease from the Old World significantly affected the Native Americans of the New World. For one, Native Americans began to become so desperate for a remedy that they began to convert from their cultural beliefs to Christianity as they believed that would bring an end to the disease as is evident in this quote Some of the Indian Counselors were of the opinion, that by embracing Christianity the contagion would cease. (2)Conversions to Christianity of course did little to curve the enfeeble effects of disease on the Native American people as their population continued to leave off at an alarming rate. Around 90% of the Native Population was depleted within a coulomb and a half after the discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus in 1492.(Faragher, 37) The harry of these Native American people by diseases does much to explain the incredible success of the Spanish as they conquered the Aztecs and later on the Inca civilization of the Andes, and Europes rather quick rise to success overall. It essentially paved the way for the conversion and destruction of Native American traditions and culture.1. John Mack Faragher, Out of legion(predicate) ( New Jersey Pearson, 2012), 37