Columbian Exchange Significance
From the late 1400’s to the sixteenth century, European kings and queens were overwhelmed by, what is now known as, the Age of Discovery. With all the extensive overseas exploration by European nations trying to colonize on foreign land and globalize, many explorers took their chance to propose an idea for voyage. Arguably one of the greatest sails man and captain in history, Christopher Columbus first proposed his idea to sail west into the Atlantic Ocean to Portuguese royalty, where it was rejected. With his vision and persistence, he then approached Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain to propose his ideas and plans, where it was accepted in 1492, and the world was never to be the same again. It was because of Columbus that the New
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World had become colonized by the European nations, creating the ability to exchange information with the rest of the world and created a fast growing environment of new and various trade. An inevitable byproduct of Columbus reaching the New World was trade between the indigenous inhabitants of the land, and different products being brought back to Europe which has never been seen before.
Christopher Columbus initiated the Columbian Exchange, a rapid and fast paced trade of plants, animals, new technologies, and knowledge from the Old World to the New World and vice versa. The agricultural importance of the Columbian Exchange is significant because it brought important goods such as food and animals to each place of the country. Historian Alfred Crosby describes the significance of the transfer of food crops between the continents by writing: “The coming together of the continents was a prerequisite for the population explosion of the past two centuries, and certainly played an important role in the Industrial Revolution. The transfer across the ocean of the staple food crops of the Old and New Worlds made possible the former.” With the transfer of food crops across continents, from the Old World and the New World and vice versa, the Modern Age was ushered in and agriculturally, Europe and presently known America was on the course of changing its history by adding a larger variety of cattle and vegetables/fruits to its
repertoire One of Columbus’ primary goals when reaching new and previously unheard of land was to colonize it under the name of the Spanish. Columbus’ three subsequent voyages to the New World, led him to "discovering" many islands in the Caribbean along with mapping the coast of Central and South America. According to Jonathan Hart’s publication, Images of the Native in Renaissance Encounter Narrative, the author states Columbus’ importance by saying, “Columbus has been a cultural icon for centuries and has often been made to sing the imperial theme of European expansion” (56). Columbus’ significance in this respect allows for more land to be “discovered,” but ultimately colonized for Spain. The result of Christopher Columbus’ four voyages helped open trans-Atlantic navigation, which facilitated European conquest of the New World, ushering in a new era where the Old World and New World separated themselves from isolation.
Lastly, Christopher Columbus should undoubtedly be given credit for inaugurating in the modern age due to the fact of the knowledge exchanged from the Old World to the New World and vice versa. Historian Will Durant explains the impact of the knowledge obtained by the Europeans by stating, “The European intellect was powerfully moved by the revelation of so many peoples, customs, and cults, planting the seeds, good and bad, of the Enlightenment.” One of the most important segments Durant wrote explains what was the positive consequence of Europeans obtaining new information by saying, “all limits were removed; all the world was open; everything seemed possible. Now, with a bold and optimistic surge, modern history began.” Columbus inaugurated the modern age, and undeservingly is written with the campaign of vilification conducted against him. Instead, his achievements deserve to be known as the result of his vision, which lead to the modern age.
After the vision and persistence from Christopher Columbus, who was the first to colonize the New World, Columbus ushered in the modern age, changing the course of world history. If not for Columbus, the New World would not have been colonized in the same manner as it was during the time period of Columbus, nor would European nations have new crops, animals, and human races at their disposal. More importantly, Columbus allowed the ability to exchange information with the rest of the world and created a fast growing environment of trade.
World had become colonized by the European nations, creating the ability to exchange information with the rest of the world and created a fast growing environment of new and various trade. An inevitable byproduct of Columbus reaching the New World was trade between the indigenous inhabitants of the land, and different products being brought back to Europe which has never been seen before.
Christopher Columbus initiated the Columbian Exchange, a rapid and fast paced trade of plants, animals, new technologies, and knowledge from the Old World to the New World and vice versa. The agricultural importance of the Columbian Exchange is significant because it brought important goods such as food and animals to each place of the country. Historian Alfred Crosby describes the significance of the transfer of food crops between the continents by writing: “The coming together of the continents was a prerequisite for the population explosion of the past two centuries, and certainly played an important role in the Industrial Revolution. The transfer across the ocean of the staple food crops of the Old and New Worlds made possible the former.” With the transfer of food crops across continents, from the Old World and the New World and vice versa, the Modern Age was ushered in and agriculturally, Europe and presently known America was on the course of changing its history by adding a larger variety of cattle and vegetables/fruits to its
repertoire One of Columbus’ primary goals when reaching new and previously unheard of land was to colonize it under the name of the Spanish. Columbus’ three subsequent voyages to the New World, led him to "discovering" many islands in the Caribbean along with mapping the coast of Central and South America. According to Jonathan Hart’s publication, Images of the Native in Renaissance Encounter Narrative, the author states Columbus’ importance by saying, “Columbus has been a cultural icon for centuries and has often been made to sing the imperial theme of European expansion” (56). Columbus’ significance in this respect allows for more land to be “discovered,” but ultimately colonized for Spain. The result of Christopher Columbus’ four voyages helped open trans-Atlantic navigation, which facilitated European conquest of the New World, ushering in a new era where the Old World and New World separated themselves from isolation.
Lastly, Christopher Columbus should undoubtedly be given credit for inaugurating in the modern age due to the fact of the knowledge exchanged from the Old World to the New World and vice versa. Historian Will Durant explains the impact of the knowledge obtained by the Europeans by stating, “The European intellect was powerfully moved by the revelation of so many peoples, customs, and cults, planting the seeds, good and bad, of the Enlightenment.” One of the most important segments Durant wrote explains what was the positive consequence of Europeans obtaining new information by saying, “all limits were removed; all the world was open; everything seemed possible. Now, with a bold and optimistic surge, modern history began.” Columbus inaugurated the modern age, and undeservingly is written with the campaign of vilification conducted against him. Instead, his achievements deserve to be known as the result of his vision, which lead to the modern age.
After the vision and persistence from Christopher Columbus, who was the first to colonize the New World, Columbus ushered in the modern age, changing the course of world history. If not for Columbus, the New World would not have been colonized in the same manner as it was during the time period of Columbus, nor would European nations have new crops, animals, and human races at their disposal. More importantly, Columbus allowed the ability to exchange information with the rest of the world and created a fast growing environment of trade.