European Expansion

Christina Blackwell

Global History

March 5 , 13

The European expansion resulted in the death of millions to better the lives of the few in Europe at the time. In 1492 there was beyond an enormous amount of genocide than ever before. The Europeans invaded the land of the Native Americans and Africans took them , crowded them on ships and decided that it was ok and civil. During the triangle trade though many goods were transferred so was disease ad slaves. European expansion was definitely a force for evil hands down.

European expansion was more evil than good because it ended in slaves being brought from Africa to the Americas. The slaves were traded for goods such as tobacco and corn. No human life should compare to goods of any sort. ‘’ The closeness of the place, and the heat of the climate , added to the number in the ship , which was so crowded that each had scarcely room to turn himself almost suffocated us’’ ( Doc 6 ) . The slaves were not only snatched out of their homes but put in horrendous living arrangements on that boat. According to Doc 8 from 1520- 1867 an estimate of 15 million slaves were delivered. Majority of them landing in Brazil. To continue to believe Christopher Columbus to be an amazing man when he changed the lives of 15 million people forever leading to a continuous chain of events of racism later on is outrageous.

‘’ Some historians have questioned the traditional view of Columbus as a hero ‘’ ( Doc 2) . T o see Columbus as a hero is just downright wrong , he didn't discover anything for the land he ‘’ found’’ had people on it. According to Doc 4 he greeted the people with only friendship, but it was his plan to enslave them from the beginning. Also in the document is states ‘ the white man … , these people are white ‘’. learly the Native Americans see the difference between each other but treated them with kindness showing them the customs and way of living. During the triangle trade they transferred slaves like and object or goods and not human beings.

Though Columbus may not be a hero, his actions lead to some great achievements leading to the America we know. In Doc 3 there was an outrageous transfer of goods. The transfer of goods or trade is huge to us today. It started a long line of importing and exporting of goods. ‘’ The Columbian discovery was of greater magnitude than any other discovery or invention in human history … both because of the … development of the New World and because of the numerous discoveries that have stemmed from it - Paola Emilio Taviani ( Doc 1 ) . The discovery allowed the spread of culture , giving every country their own culture yet alike in many ways.

In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue and, when he reached his destination he killed, raped and enslaved innocent natives. Was Columbus a villain? . Christopher Columbus was a vicious, delusional, and egocentric man who doesn't deserve any high praises for the discovery of America. He allowed the murder, rape, and enslavement of innocent people. Columbus was a narcissist who believed that he was doing the natives favors. If he had not discovered America, it is believed that some other Europeans would have. Columbus did no favor to anyone by doing what he did and is no better man than a criminal in jail.