Effects of Columbian Exchange Essay - 820 Words

The Effects of the Columbian Exchange It was the year 1492, and a man by the name of Christopher Columbus set sail from Spain where he then landed in the present day Americas, sparking one of the most important events in the world, the Columbian exchange. The Columbian exchange has shaped the world to what it is today with the exchange of goods from the Old World to the New World, and vice versa. The Columbian exchange caused numerous short and long-term effects in the Americas and many other parts of the world. The short-term effects of the Columbian exchange included the outbreak of disease, which led to a sudden drop in the population of the indigenous peoples. In the beginning of the sixteenth century Spanish and Portuguese†¦show more content†¦The foods that were brought back to the Old World such as, potatoes and corn proved a vital and necessary resource to the Europeans. Another short-term effect of the Columbian exchange was the migration of African slaves to the Americas. The majority of the Africans that were enslaved were caught in village raids or were war captives. They were caught by other Africans and sold to the European slave traders for money and other prized possessions. For slaves, the voyage known as the Middle Passage was a terrifying and perilous journey, with a death rate potentially as high as 50%. The long-term effects of the Columbian exchange included the swap of food, crops, and animals between the New World and Old World, and the start of the transoceanic trade. In order to produce a profit, Portuguese explorers were the first to established sugar cane plantations in Brazil. They then sold this crop to the Old World where it was a popular commodity because it provided Europeans with a sweetener for foods. In addition, European produce was brought to the New World, including â€Å"†¦wheat, vines, horses, cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, and chickens†¦ Where they sharply increased supplies of food and animal energy .† This fusion of crops between the Old and New World became fundamental in enhancing the diets and food of both populations. The trading routes, created by the desire from both the New and Old World for exotic foods and animals,Show MoreRelatedEffects Of The Columbian Exchange912 Words   |  4 PagesThe biggest exchange that has ever happened in the world was beginning to form from Christopher Columbus’s findings and Pope Alexander’s grant of approval of colonization of Spain over the New World. As it became known as the Columbian Exchange in honor of Columbus, it was the exchange of different plants, animals, microbes, and people across the Atlantic Ocean to the New and Old Worlds. King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella sent out many explorers to the New World which caused both positive and negativeRead MorePositive Effects Of The Columbian Exchange703 Words   |  3 Pagesthe time period known as the Columbian Exchange. Most of what the Europeans took from the Exchange was good, but some of what they brought was devastating to the people in the New World. Although, this time period was very b rutal for the Native Americans, the Columbian Exchange resulted in the transmitting of new technologies, an increase in remedies and cures for diseases, and a growth in resources such as food that helped to improve life. During the Columbian Exchange there were civilizations thatRead MoreThe Positive Effects Of The Columbian Exchange1051 Words   |  5 PagesThe Columbian Exchange The Columbian Exchange was the transfer of plants, animals, human populations, diseases, cultures, and ideas throughout the world. The new worlds that had been discovered were a part of this Columbian Exchange, and were exposed to many new and foreign goods as well as people. The Americas, or New World, were faced with harsh treatment from Columbus and his crew, along with the rampant spread of new diseases that took a large toll on the Native populations. The Indies were alsoRead MoreEffects Of The Columbian Exchange1121 Words   |  5 PagesThe Columbian Exchange is often looked at and thought of for all of the good things it brought, like the exchange of animals, plants, and food between the Old World and the New World. But the Columbian Exchange also included the transfer of diseases between Europe and the Americas.   Ã‚  Ã‚   Old World diseases were transferred European sailors to Native Americans. The diseases played at least as big of role in defeating the Native Americans as advanced weaponry did (Craig). In the first 20 years afterRead MoreThe Positive Effects Of The Columbian Exchange1643 Words   |  7 PagesThe term â€Å"Columbian Exchange† refers to the massive transfer of life between the Afro-Eurasian and American hemispheres that was precipitated by Columbus’ voyage to the New World . It was known as the widespread interchange of plants, animals, diseases, culture, human populations and technology between Europe and the Americas. After Columbus’ arrival to the Americas, the plant, animal and bacterial life began to mix between the Americas, which was also referred to as the â€Å"New World† and Europe,Read MoreNegative Effects Of The Columbian Exchange1498 Words   |  6 Pagesin starting the Columbian exchange. The Columbian exchange was the process of the New World and the Old World transferring ideas, plants, animals, culture, human populations, and manufactured goods across the Atlantic Ocean throughout the 15th and the 16th century. Even though there were many positive results out of the exchange including the finding of the Americas, new plant and animal species, and the Europeans gaining more land to grow their Old-World crops, the overall effects were negative.Read MorePositive Effects Of The Columbian Exchange837 Words   |  4 PagesThe Columbian Exchange had many effects on the world we know and live in today. There are many views on whether these effects were a positive or negative impact on us. The exchange brought diseases and slavery, but it also brought new technologies and culture. Throughout history there have been conquerors and conquered, the Americas are no different. Though the impact on the natives was unpleasant, I believe the Columbian Exchange was a positive event for the New World because it brought technologicalRead MoreThe Term Effects Of The Columbian Exchange On The Old World712 Words   |  3 Pagesthink of the Columbian Exchange they remember all of the great things such as the exchange of goods that we cherish today. Things such as crops, ideas, and animals between the Old World(Afro-Eurasia) and the New World(The Americas) that helped to cultivate the world we live in today.But at what price did this diffusion of goods cost? Although the Columbian Exchange brought the goods we value today such as animals, plants, and the exchange of ideas, It would also bring long term effects of worse natureRead MoreEssay on Positive and Negative Effects of the Columbian Exchange788 Words   |  4 PagesAlthough Columbuss revelation of the New World to the Old World caused deadly diseases to both hemispheres, a loss of preservation of native American culture in the New World, and the unhealthy effect of tobacco in the Old World, it made an overall positive impact in lasting terms by the introduction of religion and horses and cattle in the New World and the new agriculture advancements and alpacas. The Eastern-Western hemisphere encounter was obviously positive in the Western hemisphere becauseRead More The Lasting Effects of the Columbian Exchange During the Age of Discovery1815 Words   |  8 PagesThe Lasting Effects of the Columbian Exchange During the Age of Discovery It should no longer come as any great surprise that Columbus was not the first to discover the Americas--Carthaginians, Vikings, and even St. Brendan may have set foot on the Western Hemisphere long before Columbus crossed the Atlantic. But none of these incidental contacts made the impact that Columbus did. Columbus and company were bound to bring more than the benefits of Christianity and double entry bookkeeping to