Research Paper On The Columbian Exchange

539 Words3 Pages

The Columbian Exchange The Columbian Exchange was “the transfer of plants, animals, and diseases from the Old World to the New and the New World to the Old (Von Sivers, Desnoyers, & Stow, 2012, p. 618)”. The Columbian Exchange improved and hindered the lives of the Europeans and Native Americans. The Europeans benefited more from the Columbian Exchange then the Native Americans because “the Europeans got a continent endowed with a warm climate in which they could create new and improved versions of their homelands (Von Sivers, Desnoyers, & Stow, 2012, p. 621).” Prior the Columbian Exchange, Europeans were not able to grow any crops in their cold climates. With the Columbian exchange, Europeans were able to grow corn, potatoes, beans, avocados, tomatoes, and pumpkins. Corn was the most useful crop that was brought back because it was able to grow in the cold weather. With the increase of food and favorable growing seasons the population of the world began to grow. …show more content…

Diseases such as syphilis were introduced to the Europeans. These diseases were spread by sexual contact between sailors and setters with the Natives. After being exposed by the Natives, the sailors and setter would go back to Europe and exposing the diseases there. There were no cure to syphilis and Europeans who were exposed had to die a painful death before going insane. The Native Americans did not benefit from the Columbian Exchange because they were “wiped out by disease, their lands appropriated, and the survivors either enslaved or marginalized (Von Sivers, Desnoyers, & Stow, 2012, p. 621) ”. Diseases such as small pox, measles, influenza, and diphtheria were exposed to the Native Americans by Europeans in close working conditions. The water and food that were given to the Native Americans was exposed to diseases and later transferring that infected food and water their