Jessica Tan
Mr. Chlodnicki
Comparative Cultures
Period 1
7 October 2014
Essay 1: Why were Europeans able to conquer large parts of the world during the Age of Imperialism?
Europeans were able to take over most of the Americas, some of the African continent, and parts of Asia, during a time period known as the Age of Imperialism. Prior to the Age of Imperialism, Europeans had not been able to conquer much of the world, since they did not have the military technology or economical wealth to do so. Due to its development of new military strategies, Europe was able to build colonies across the globe during the Age of Imperialism, with the aid of agricultural advancements.
With the development in weaponry, military strategies that were newer …show more content…
Smallpox was carried from Europeans to Native Americans. Thousands of years earlier, people living in Europe contracted diseases by coming in close contact with animals (PBS: Guns, Germs, and Steel). Highly contagious diseases would spread across the continent, killing almost everyone. Those who survived were able to pass on their antibodies and immunized genes (PBS: Guns, Germs, and Steel). Those who did not have the immunized genes would die and would not be able to pass on their genes. So after a while, the whole population was immunized and unaffected by the animal germs. However, the natives in the Americas were not immunized. They only farmed one animal, the llama. The natives did not even come into close contact with the llamas-- they were rarely eaten, never milked, and never kept indoors (PBS: Guns, Germs, and Steel). When the two groups came into contact with each other, the germs carried by the Europeans killed off over 90% of the native population (PBS: Guns, Germs, and Steel). When the Europeans went to the Cape of Good Hope to colonize in Africa, the same spreading of diseases occurred. The military strategy of using diseases to wipe out native populations allowed the Europeans to clear more land for …show more content…
Military strategy, such as new weaponry and biological disease spread, wiped out former populations, which cleared space for colonization, allowing the European empire to expand. Agricultural advancements, such as spice trade and wheat growth, boosted Europe’s economical wealth.
Works Cited
Ahmad, Iftikhar, Herbert Brodsky, Marylee S. Crofts, and Elisabeth G. Ellis. "Shaping the Industrial World." World Cultures: A Global Mosaic. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2004. N. pag. Print.
"Food Staple." Education.nationalgeographic.com. National Geographic Education, n.d. Web. 05 Oct. 2014. <http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/encyclopedia/food-staple/?ar_a=1#page=1>.
Guns, Germs, and Steel: Episode 2. Dir. Tim Lambert. Perf. Peter Coyote and Jared Diamond. National Geographic, 1997.
Jones, Jim. "Europe & Africa in the 19th Century." Europe & Africa in the 19th Century. Courses.wcupa.edu, 2010. Web. 05 Oct. 2014. <http://courses.wcupa.edu/jones/his312/lectures/19thcent.htm>.
Pfingston, Max. "Iron vs. Bronze: History of Metallurgy." Education-portal.com. Education Portal, n.d. Web. 05 Oct. 2014.
Mr. Chlodnicki
Comparative Cultures
Period 1
7 October 2014
Essay 1: Why were Europeans able to conquer large parts of the world during the Age of Imperialism?
Europeans were able to take over most of the Americas, some of the African continent, and parts of Asia, during a time period known as the Age of Imperialism. Prior to the Age of Imperialism, Europeans had not been able to conquer much of the world, since they did not have the military technology or economical wealth to do so. Due to its development of new military strategies, Europe was able to build colonies across the globe during the Age of Imperialism, with the aid of agricultural advancements.
With the development in weaponry, military strategies that were newer …show more content…
Smallpox was carried from Europeans to Native Americans. Thousands of years earlier, people living in Europe contracted diseases by coming in close contact with animals (PBS: Guns, Germs, and Steel). Highly contagious diseases would spread across the continent, killing almost everyone. Those who survived were able to pass on their antibodies and immunized genes (PBS: Guns, Germs, and Steel). Those who did not have the immunized genes would die and would not be able to pass on their genes. So after a while, the whole population was immunized and unaffected by the animal germs. However, the natives in the Americas were not immunized. They only farmed one animal, the llama. The natives did not even come into close contact with the llamas-- they were rarely eaten, never milked, and never kept indoors (PBS: Guns, Germs, and Steel). When the two groups came into contact with each other, the germs carried by the Europeans killed off over 90% of the native population (PBS: Guns, Germs, and Steel). When the Europeans went to the Cape of Good Hope to colonize in Africa, the same spreading of diseases occurred. The military strategy of using diseases to wipe out native populations allowed the Europeans to clear more land for …show more content…
Military strategy, such as new weaponry and biological disease spread, wiped out former populations, which cleared space for colonization, allowing the European empire to expand. Agricultural advancements, such as spice trade and wheat growth, boosted Europe’s economical wealth.
Works Cited
Ahmad, Iftikhar, Herbert Brodsky, Marylee S. Crofts, and Elisabeth G. Ellis. "Shaping the Industrial World." World Cultures: A Global Mosaic. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2004. N. pag. Print.
"Food Staple." Education.nationalgeographic.com. National Geographic Education, n.d. Web. 05 Oct. 2014. <http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/encyclopedia/food-staple/?ar_a=1#page=1>.
Guns, Germs, and Steel: Episode 2. Dir. Tim Lambert. Perf. Peter Coyote and Jared Diamond. National Geographic, 1997.
Jones, Jim. "Europe & Africa in the 19th Century." Europe & Africa in the 19th Century. Courses.wcupa.edu, 2010. Web. 05 Oct. 2014. <http://courses.wcupa.edu/jones/his312/lectures/19thcent.htm>.
Pfingston, Max. "Iron vs. Bronze: History of Metallurgy." Education-portal.com. Education Portal, n.d. Web. 05 Oct. 2014.