Columbian Exchange Destruction

The Columbian Exchange: Destruction and Rebirth

It’s the Pre-Columbian era and Native Americans don’t have a thought of Columbus’s arrival. Before 1492, the Americas was occupied with tribal societies who took part in trade, battle, and sacrificial offerings to their gods. “In a tribal society, members usually took on gender roles. For example, the males would hunt for food while the females would prepare the meal. Duties of both genders were unique to the success of their community. Without the touch of European hands Natives were living life as they’ve been since their unknown arrival in the Americas.”(Encyclopedia of the Great Plains)

Upon the news of Columbus’s voyage to the West Indies, Europeans saw the chance to claim the land or resources

With them came smallpox, measles, chicken pox, influenza, and many other diseases. “Before the arrival of Columbus, Native American disease wasn’t dominant in the land. Due to the lack of exposure of disease in their younger years, Native Americans were vulnerable to the European diseases that would come with the Columbian Exchange. The diseases would soon destroy many societies of the ancient Aztec, Maya, and Inca. Through many estimates it is foreseen that alien diseases caused over 50% deaths of the Native American population. On the other hand, Europeans didn’t have the same effect when they came in contact with these diseases. Exposed to the diseases at an early age, Europeans were mostly to fully immune. With the devastating effects of disease, native culture was starting to change. Persuaded that their native gods have abandoned them, many natives converted to Christianity. Forced by disease, natives usually married relatives that survived the diseases since appropriate partners were scarce. Furthermore, disease also influenced the African Slave Trade to the Americas. With Africans being immune to Old World diseases other than the Native Americans, many Europeans preferred the African as the better slave.”(The Great Disease Migration)

Looking in the past at the discovery of the Americas during Columbus Day, most people forget the hardships the Native Americans faced. For years, many protesters have argued to change Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day. Across the Americas this change has already taken effect. I don’t feel that San Antonio will gain the support for this change since the city’s heritage is largely Spanish. What will be extremely debated is if Columbus/Europeans intentionally wanted the Natives to perish from disease, exotic plants, and