Age Of Discovery Dbq

During the 15th to the 17th century, Europeans engaged in intensive exploration and colonization of the world. Some of the many motives for exploration were that the Europeans wanted prestige, power, wealth, and to convert individuals to Christianity. Some historians often refer to this as the Age of Discovery, in which the Portuguese and Spaniards play a major role during this time.
After an outbreak in Europe on the 14th century known as the Black Death, caused about 25 million people to die over a five-year period. This made Europe go through a major change. Although in the beginning it indeed negatively affected them, but also it resulted wealth later on across the European population. Allowing them for new opportunities for many of the workers who were only serfs before. Due to the great loss of the population more bullion was available for the rest of the small population that was left. This meant more wealth across all classes. This led to the creation of such now called middle class. It
also resulted in technological advances as well. As tools developed in the middle ages for exploration and navigation this caused for sailors to be able to go farther than they ever had before.
The Europeans were also very curious to find a faster route to Asia to find gold and silver.
In addition, they wanted to explore, expand their knowledge and spread their religion to the world. For instance, the Portuguese were trying to get to Asia by sailing South around the southern tip of Africa. In the other hand after studying maps, Columbus strongly believed that the earth was smaller than it is. He also believed that it had just one ocean. Therefore, he thought that he could reach Asia faster by sailing west across the Atlantic ocean.
Due to the result of European colonization, The Columbus Exchange took place. The Columbus Exchange was one of the most important events in history. It was the interchanging between the New and old Worlds (Europeans and Native Americans). The exchanges were such as plants, animals, and disease. For example, traders returned to Europe with corn, potatoes, and tomatoes, which became very important crops in Europe by the 18th
century.
Unfortunately, when Native Americans came into contact with the Europeans they were negatively affected health wise. Europeans had brought diseases with them such as small pox, influenza, measles, and even chicken pox. Europeans were practically used to these diseases but Native Americans were not immune to them. Although this major event occurred, Native Americans were interested in the things that colonist would provide. In a very short period of time the Indians began using these tools in their everyday life. Especially hunters were benefited by this that led them to wanting to trade with the Europeans. Metal tools such as axes, hoes, knives, later European firearms became significant sources to them.
We can see that Europeans engaged in depth exploration. They were eager for wealth, prestige, and to spread their religion to others. They tried to look for the fastest route to Asia in which at the end neither the Portuguese nor Spaniards were able to find It. Well Christopher Columbus believed he succeed and reached his destination, but he actually did not and instead encounter Native Americans. This resulted in positive and negative results. There encounter caused The Native American population to dramatically declined because of the different diseases Spaniards were bringing and spreading to them. Well on the bright side, Spaniards did also bring with them things that benefited Native Americans in daily basis. Therefore The Columbian Exchange was also convenient to both of them as well.