Positive And Negative Impacts Of The Columbian Exchange

During the early 1400’s European exploration initiated changes in technology, farming, disease and other cultural things ultimately impacting the Native Americans and Europeans. Throughout Columbus’ voyages, he initiated the global exchange that changed the world. The exchange of plants, animals, and diseases between the Old and New World began soon after Columbus returned to Spain from the Americas. These changes had multiple effects, that were both positive and negative. Although the Columbian Exchange had numerous benefits and drawbacks but the drawbacks outweighs the benefits. In terms of benefits the Columbian Exchange only positively affected the lives of the Europeans.They gained many things such as, crops, like maize and potatoes, land in the Americas, and slaves from Africa. On the other hand the negative impacts of the Columbian Exchange are the spread of disease, death, and slavery. In document 3b it states, “... an epidemic broke out, a sickness of pustules… very many people died of them, and many just starved to death; starvation reigned and no one took care of each other.” One effect of the Columbian Exchange was the indigenous people

Not only America and England were affected by the Columbian Exchange ; without the Columbian Exchange the foods that currently present in many locations across the world wouldn’t be there. In document 2 it states, “Today some 200 million Africans rely on it as their main source of nutrition. Cacao and rubber, two other South American crops, became important export items in West Africa the 20th century.” Also in document 2 it states, “Indeed, almost everywhere in the world, one or another American food crops caught on, complementing existing crops, or more rarely, replacing them.” These two quotes demonstrate that the Columbian Exchange brought about a massive change in the foods people