Unit 1:
2. The Columbian Exchange was one of the most significant events in the history of the world according to the lecture powerpoint slides the Columbian Exchange is defined as, “An exchange of life forms- including plants and animals, microbes and beings - between the Americas and the rest of the world”. Three main transformations brought by the Columbian exchange were to the countries of America, Europe and Africa. After Christopher Columbus arrived to the Americas in 1492, it dramatically impacted the world in both positive and negative ways. New livestock, new agriculture and new microbial life were introduced from Europe to America. The Columbian exchange brought horses, cattle, pigs and other livestock that were seen as useful because
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The columbian exchange provided a global supply of different sort of agricultural goods because the Americas provided a good land well suited for cultivation. Perhaps one of the worst aspects of the Columbian Exchange was the flow of diseases. Europeans introduced diseases such as Tuberculosis, and Syphilis that killed many Native Americans. Since the Columbian Exchange caused a labor shortage in America, Europeans began to look for ways of cheap, efficient labor so they drew their attention towards the Native Americans. The Spanish people developed a labor system known as Encomienda. Native Americans were offered rewards for their services rendered, food and housing. This sort of labor system was ideal because the Native Americans were already there, but it was not a long term solution due to the lack of labor experience. The Spanish then drew their attention towards Africa and contributed to the enslavement of African Americans. It caused a mass forced migration of the African population and began a new idea of “racism”. Millions of African Americans were imported to the Americas and forced to work. Europeans saw advantages in the enslavement of these people due to them having farming experience that would benefit them by using them as slaves to work in