Columbian Exchange Global Consequences - Essay Example

Lecturer: Columbian Exchange global Consequences Colonization of Americas drastically changed the world and prompted both forcedand voluntary migration of people leading to the founding of fresh and powerful societies. The colonization affected the transfer of fresh items that affect people throughout the world, since there was worldwide transfer of plants, food and animals because ships traveling from the Americas transported wide variety of items never known by Europeans, Africans and Asians. These items included plants like tomatoes, pineapples, tobacco, squash, cocoa beans; and animals such as turkey that became eastern hemisphere’s source of food, especially the Columbian exchange. This global transfer of animals, plants, diseases and particularly food bridged eastern and western hemispheres had global impact touching nearly all people of the world in some way (“The Columbian Exchange and Global Trade” 571; Boivin, Dorian and Alison 452). The most significant items that moved from Americas to the other parts of the world were potatoes and corn, which were economical to grow and nourishing. Potatoes supplied fundamental vitamins and overtime the crops became a crucial and steady part of diets across the planet. Nevertheless, traffic across the Atlantic never travelled in one direction since the Europeans introduced several livestock animals in Americas that included horses, sheep, pigs, cattle and sheep. Foods from Africa as well as the crops that came from Asia were moved to the west through the European ships. Some features of the exchange had disastrous impacts on Native Americans since disease was part of the exchange. For instance, diseases brought by Europeans like smallpox and measles resulted in death of many Native Americans (Bulliet 519; “The Columbian Exchange and Global Trade” 572-574). Not only was the effects of the exchange isolated to the parts that mostly directly participated in the exchange like Europe and Americas, but also had large impact on Africa and Asia. European exploration and settlement in tropical regions was helped by the invention of quinine an efficient cure for malaria during this the time. Agriculture of economically lucrative plants in Americas and the devastation of native populations by diseases demanded labor that was met by forced movement of more than 12 million Africans in the period between the 16th and 19th century (McCook 13; Nunn and Nancy 164). There are many infectious diseases that resulted from Columbian exchange the main killers being malaria, smallpox, measles and chicken pox. Since Native Americans never experienced the diseases prior to the coming of the Europeans, the natives were immunologically defenseless. Before the invasion of the Europeans who initiated Columbian exchange, Native Americans lived in an environment relatively free of diseases since they never suffered from smallpox, measles, chickenpox or malaria. The exchange of food in the old and new worlds during Columbian exchange had considerable consequences in the world history since it increased the global provision of agricultural foods through the introduction of new species. Moreover, the invention of the Americas presented the old world with a vast amount of comparatively uninhabited land that was suited for farming of certain crops in demand within the old world markets. Food crops such as coffee, soybeans, sugar, oranges and bananas were pioneered in the Americas and the Americas became main suppliers of those crops globally (Nunn and Nancy 163). Introduction of the various calorically rich staple crops had the benefit of growing the crops in climates that were inappropriate for cultivation of other staples. The American food crops have various demands on soil, cultivation and weather compared to former staple crops since they have different growing seasons. The American crops never compete with old world crops but rather complement them since the American crops enabled farmers to produce food in soils that were previously rated as useless because of altitude, sandiness and aridity. These benefits came from the adoption of Americas crops across the world (Nunn and Nancy 169). European invasion and colonization of the western hemisphere was a leeway for biological and technological broadcast that altered American environments. Technologies and resources from the Americas profoundly contributed to changes like the staple crops introduced from the Americas offered highly nutritious foods that fueled population growth in Africa and Europe. Riches and products channeled from the Americas transformed social, economic and political relations in Europe (Bulliet 520). Establishment of colonial empires in Americas affected European nations in various ways for instance; new wealth from Americas resulted in dramatic growth in international trade. This factor promoted new trade and businesses activities in Europe between the 16th and 17th centuries. These practices that served as roots to today’s financial dealings drastically changed economic atmosphere in Europe. One aspect of European economic revolution is the rise of capitalism that advocated for private ownership and investment of resources. Therefore, governments were no longer the only owners of great wealth since the onset of colonization and trade resulted in many merchants who obtained great wealth. The economic modification that swept across much of Europe during the colonization of the Americas resulted in changes within the European society. Economic revolution encouraged growth of cities as well as the rise of merchants who managed great wealth (Nunn and Nancy 164; Bulliet 519-520). The Columbian exchange was valuable to Europeans since they got new resources that enlarged their population and stirred economic growth. As well, Africa gained fresh resources nevertheless, Columbian exchange was marked with an increase in slave trade in Africa. The Americans gained resources and tools though at high price since the Europeans came over with diseases that killed large part of the Americas population. The Columbian exchange affected ecology, cultivation and culture of human history (McCook 14; Nunn and Nancy 164-5). In conclusion, the Columbian exchange explains how European nations achieved a powerful and wealthy status fast and how Africans were traded as slaves. With the widespread exchange, ecology determined the destiny of cultures and population for instance; smallpox epidemics killed huge numbers of Native Americans. Simultaneous circulation of crops resulted in an increase in populace in either region; likewise the Europeans introduced the food crops to parts of Africa and Asia. Thus, there was far-flung transformation of lifestyles in Europe, America, Asia and Africa since new crops were introduced in various regions and the new foods ended up being staples for various households. Consequently, the Columbian exchange helps comprehend most of the changes visible in the world today with respect to food, lifestyles, diseases and the demise and thriving of various cultures. Works cited ‘The Columbian Exchange and Global Trade”. n.d. 571-575. Web. 6 May 2013. Boivin, Nicole, Dorian Q Fuller, and Alison Crowther. "Old World Globalization And The Columbian Exchange: Comparison And Contrast." World Archaeology 44.3 (2012): 452-469. Academic Search Premier. Web. 6 May 2013. Bulliet, Richard W. The Earth and Its Peoples: A Global History. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin, 2008. Print. McCook, Stuart. "The Neo-Columbian Exchange." Latin American Research Review 46.(2011): 11-31. Academic Search Premier. Web. 6 May 2013. Nunn, Nathan, and Nancy Qian. "The Columbian Exchange: A History Of Disease, Food, And Ideas." Journal Of Economic Perspectives 24.2 (2010): 163-188. Business Source Complete. Web. 6 May 2013. Read More