Social And Cultural Effects Of The Columbian Exchange

Cultural and natural exchanges between the new and old worlds is referred to as the Columbian Exchange. The exchanges of technology, plants, animals, and diseases altered the ways of life for the upcoming generations. The exchange lasted throughout the years of expansion and discovery beginning in Columbus' discovery in 1492. The Columbian Exchange impacted the social and cultural makeup of both sides of the world. Developments in agricultural production, evolution of weaponry, decrease of death rates and increase of education are a few examples of the effect of the Columbian Exchange on both Europeans and Native Americans.

The exchange of crops between the both worlds changed both the economy as well as the culture. When Europeans first came

Although European explorers came across distinct American illnesses, but these did not have much effect on Old World populations. The main disease that had an effect on the old world country was Syphilis. Syphilis was a disease spread by sexual contact. It was mostly found in sailors because they were so often without women on long voyages to the new world. The most common remedies for syphilis was guaiacum and mercury. Although mercury worked at times there were still tens of thousands that perished because of the epidemic. The impact of syphilis was massive but eventually settled down and became a permanent factor in human

Columbus and his men brought disease that eventually wiped out massive amount of the Indian population. Eventually on the return of the Sailors to their home lands Syphilis began to spread slowly at first and then quickly into epidemic proportions throughout other their native land and soon spread to other nations. These exchanges of diseases during the Columbian Exchange had a profound effect on the world then and continues to affect our world today. Although disease is one of the main thing we think of when we think of the Colombian exchange, we normally forget or even not know of the technology that was brought to the New World.

The Colombian Exchange brought many new things into the new world including technology and Cultural changes. Compared to the Native Americans, Europe was an economic and technological power, in the New World. Yet, they both still benefited from the exchange of cultures and ideas. Native Americans were impacted immensely by the technological transition. The Europeans caused a spark that changed the Native American culture when they crossed the Atlantic and colonized the new world. The biggest changes were; a written alphabet, weapon capabilities, new firearms, new farming capabilities, and architectural