The Columbian exchange was a vital event that led to the merging of the Old and New worlds. It also dramatically changed the resources available, cultures, and many more aspects of life in all countries involved. The Columbian exchange was the sharing of plants, animals, population, ideas, disease, and many more consequences as a result of Columbus’ arrival and the exploration of the resources in the Americas. The new cultures and ideas developed from the Columbian Exchange included the introduction of new resources and foods, increased trade, as well as the devastation of new diseases.
Introduction of disease to the Old and New worlds was a large consequence of the Columbian exchange. In solely Native Americans, the population fell from …show more content…
They also spread religion, languages and a new economic system. The Europeans brought over knowledge that was useful such as “people of the Americas realized that crops with higher caloric value could not only feed more people, but also allowed people to work harder because they were more energized.” (Doc 3) An important crop was potatoes which could be left in the ground until they were ready to be eaten. Essential animals were pigs and horses. Pigs could be used for traveling in the ocean because they could be left on the way to a destination and then on the way back they could be picked back up eaten. Horses also could be used for travels because they are fast and were utilized during war as well. Along with knowledge of new resources, there was a new economic system created. The Spanish created it in 1503 and called it the encomienda system. The idea was to make Native Americans work on Spanish-owned estates. “The Indians should work on the Christians’ building, mind the gold, till the fields, and produce food for the Christians” (Doc 5) The ideas for that system came from a letter written from King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella to the governor of Hispaniola at the time. Economics weren't the only thing that spread, religions and languages spread as well. In order to advance, Spanish and Portuguese missions were used. Missions were initially used to help spread Christianity. (Doc
Introduction of disease to the Old and New worlds was a large consequence of the Columbian exchange. In solely Native Americans, the population fell from …show more content…
They also spread religion, languages and a new economic system. The Europeans brought over knowledge that was useful such as “people of the Americas realized that crops with higher caloric value could not only feed more people, but also allowed people to work harder because they were more energized.” (Doc 3) An important crop was potatoes which could be left in the ground until they were ready to be eaten. Essential animals were pigs and horses. Pigs could be used for traveling in the ocean because they could be left on the way to a destination and then on the way back they could be picked back up eaten. Horses also could be used for travels because they are fast and were utilized during war as well. Along with knowledge of new resources, there was a new economic system created. The Spanish created it in 1503 and called it the encomienda system. The idea was to make Native Americans work on Spanish-owned estates. “The Indians should work on the Christians’ building, mind the gold, till the fields, and produce food for the Christians” (Doc 5) The ideas for that system came from a letter written from King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella to the governor of Hispaniola at the time. Economics weren't the only thing that spread, religions and languages spread as well. In order to advance, Spanish and Portuguese missions were used. Missions were initially used to help spread Christianity. (Doc