Christopher Columbus's Influence On American Culture

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Though, stratigraphic conventions presently place the modern world in the Holocene epoch, it is unlikely this classification persists for much longer. As human environmental impacts continue to grow exponentially, it has become increasingly obvious that mankind is no longer a captive participant in the global ecosystem. Instead, throwing off the shackles of environmental determinism, humans have fundamentally altered their relationship with nature, becoming agents of environmental change unlike any the world has witnessed before. This new era, defined by our environmental actions, christened the “Anthropocene,” has become progressively more popular since its inception in the late 1800s. Yet, despite its pervasiveness in today’s scientific literature, …show more content…
Consequently, it seems reasonable to assume the European’s, and in particular the Spanish bear the responsibility for the Anthropocene’s inception. However, such a finding demonstrates a gross negligence of critical of thinking. Though, Columbus was the first European to set foot on in the New World, attributing the massive multi-dimensional global shifts that followed in his wake to the man, his nation, or the continent of Europe is extraordinarily foolish. The quest for knowledge, the pull of the unknown, and ultimately the greed that tempted Columbus to sail west in search of the Indies represents an attribute of human nature, as fundamental as the atoms that make up our bodies. While Columbus and Europe alike no doubt had a location advantage, which most likely accounts for the distinction they bear as “discovers of the new world,” it is implausible to assume that in the absence of their actions the world today would reflect its pre-1492 counterpart. Since the inception of our species, advancement, accumulation, and a drive to explore the unknown have been characteristics of our collective being. Accordingly, the age of production and globalization was never a question of if, but rather a question of when. When Columbus first set foot on the …show more content…
With the birth of the Anthropocene individual consumption across the globe grew, while simultaneously our relationship with the environment withered. Made possible by embracing a Cartesian Dualism, post-1492 humans lost touch with their environment, becoming actors outside of nature, accelerating a global change and giving our species a new form of agency. The associated consequences have not always been ideal, with devastating environmental destruction and dangerous shifting atmospheric compositions troubling global populations today. Yet, the origins of this shift, and in fact even some of the effects of it, offer promising solutions to the various anthropogenic concerns. Globally, technological advancement has generating increased efficiency, while decreasing reliance on the environment to satisfy human needs. Embracing renewable and cleaner forms of energy, such as nuclear, while reducing environmental dependency for production offer the promise of a healthier environment and a more comfortable existence for mankind. Unfortunately, though, many people today either fail to see the utility of such culture shifts, or worse yet simply ignore their obvious benefits due to monetary costs. Consequently, to fully realize and utilize new
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