Columbian Exchange Research Paper

Words: 674
Pages: 3

The Columbian Exchange was a cross-continental exchange of goods such as plants, animals, and disease between the Old and New Worlds. As vast amounts of goods and culture were imposed upon the land and people within, the “New World” became not so much a place that was discovered and invaded by the Europeans but one that was created through transformations still felt to this day. The Columbian Exchange had extensive social and economic effects to both sides with an overarching European advantage due to geographical luck that resulted in better advancements. Prior to the voyage of Columbus, fruits and vegetables we know as signature to certain countries did not even exist there such as the Irish potatoes or Italian tomatoes. Potatoes came from …show more content…
While the Old World benefited from most of the effects following the Columbian Exchange, the New World suffered immensely. Through the syncretism of religions and the spreading of European culture, a large majority of native traditions was lost. Many of the religious practices of the Natives alarmed the Spanish, such as traditional dances, music, and rituals. At this time the spread of Christianity was deemed a religious responsibility of those who followed, therefore in attempts to convert the Natives, these practices were banned and prosecuted. Despite the Natives beginning to despise the controlling and imperialistic nature of Europeans, their numbers were far too dwindled to truly regain control of their land and society. Many Indigenous would end up confined to limited living space and forced to make social change as Europeans solidified their hold over the New World. Between the exchanges of both societies, the Europeans ended up with the most success. Despite the fact that natives to the Americas had very well developed societies they were completely demolished by the arrival of Spanish, English, and other settlers due to the intentional and unintentional weapons they