Why Is The Columbian Exchange A Turning Point In World History

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The Columbian Exchange was the exchange of goods between Europe and the Americas. There were major cultural changes on both sides of this exchange. The Columbian Exchange was a turning point in world history because of how it sparked a growth in population and the middle class, nearly destroyed an entire group of people and their culture, and benefitted Europe’s economy. During the Columbian Exchange, a new diet allowed Europeans to have a longer life expectancy. Europe originally grew lots of wheat, which was sustain large groups of people. New staple foods, like corn and potatoes, were brought in from the New World. These more efficient foods eventually led to the starving population in Europe significantly declining. As a result, the population increased. The middle class of Europe also began to grow. The number of middle and peasant classes versus elites continued to grow and grow until the ratio was extremely uneven. This is important because it would eventually lead to revolts against the elite class, like the French Revolution which completely changed France’s …show more content…
Europeans brought many new diseases, such as small pox, to the New World. Unlike the African slaves, who had over time built up an immunity to these diseases, the Native Americans were completely exposed. Enormous amounts of their population were wiped out because the arrival of the Europeans and these diseases. Their people and culture were almost completely wiped out even today they have never recovered. Economically, European countries were able to benefit greatly from exploration of the New World. They were able to bring back goods into their countries and create new markets from them. For example, in Ireland potato farming became one of the main aspects of their lives and economy. They were also able to trade these new found goods and ideas with other

The Columbian Exchange

for the Old World in Spain and Portugal, technology was advancing, trade was flourishing and the economy was building, but why? The Columbian Exchange had played an enormous role in creating these advancements for the New and Old World of Europe and the American Colonies. The Columbian Exchange began in the midst of the 15th and 16th centuries, marking the beginning of dispersion of ideologies, religion, plants, trade routes, and even diseases from the Old World. The Columbian Exchange created a massive…

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Essay on christopher columbus

first trip out on to the sea. As you can see he was very young when he went out the first time so this may have been why he took so many journeys when he got older. He decided to complete four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean. While on these voyages he was looking to establish permanent settlement on the Hispaniola Island. This initiated the Spanish Colonization of the New World. After being turned down by numerous people about his plan King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella decided to reconsider the…

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James Merrell Analysis

Columbus discovered America. The history of America began thousand of years before the pre-Columbian era. Debate over how the Europeans arrival affected the Indians still stimulates discussion. Two opposing views on this subject come from arguments made by James Merrell and Neal Salisbury. From these two arguments this essay will draw the conclusion about why the arrival of Europeans (and later Africans) in North America ushered Native Americans into a “New World.” In particular James Merrell…

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United States and Essential Questions Essay

Advanced Placement Untied States History Dr. Alba 2014-2015 School Year Course Description: AP U.S. History covers the spectrum of American history from pre- Columbian days to the present. Using chronological and thematic approaches to the material, the course exposes students to extensive primary and secondary sources and to the interpretations of various historians. Class participation through seminar reports, discussions, debates, and role-playing activities is required; special emphasis…

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Hi MR. Essay

centuries Europeans caused their slave output to greatly increase b/c slaves were needed in New World to work on farms/plantations 3) What was the economic consequence of Columbus’s discovery? Spain became very wealthy from precious metals from New World The Columbian Exchange (transfer of resources, plants, animals, & diseases) Europe provided markets, capital, & technology Africa provided labor New World provided raw materials & farmland Chapter 2: 4) How did England’s victory over the Spanish…

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