Positive Effects Of Discovery And Conquest

What were some of the effects (positive and/or negative) of Discovery and Conquest on the New World and the Old World? How might the New World be different today had the Spanish not destroyed the indigenous civilizations?

The effects of the Discovery and Conquest on the New World and Old World were positive and negative. Some positive effects on the Old World were that this ended the Medieval Period and the beginning of a modern future in Europe. This also marked the beginning of a cultural spread across the globe. It was also a change in society back in Europe where everyone was poor and ill, throwing their lives away to finding a way to be successful. The Discovery of the New World sent the economy of Europe skyrocketing. As gold and silver

flowed into the European countries from the New World, they also shipped other goods from the newly discovered lands such as flaxseed oil, furs, dyes, Brazil wood, and more (L. H. Nelson) (L. H. Nelson). A negative effect on the Old World was the spread of sand fleas, insects that caused infections under the human skin. For the Old World the effects were mainly positive and for the Old World they were mainly negative (Crosby). Negative impacts on the New World were diseases to humans and animals, infestation of rats, and slavery. Many diseases, such as influenza, measles, and smallpox, were spread to the natives in the New World from the disease polluted streets of Europe and some that affected the llamas and alpacas (Cleary). Rats infested ships of the Europeans and carried to the New World, mainly infesting the islands of the Bermuda. In Europe, since many lives were lost to disease and war, explorers brought back natives to work in labor. They became slaves and worked in labor to make tobacco, sugar, coffee, and rice (Council For Economic Education).
I think the New World would be different today had the Spanish not destroyed the indigenous civilizations.

The civilizations may have existed longer and had a bigger influence in the New World throughout history than the Spanish. This might have affected the Colombian Exchange and goods may have not been traded as much. The Spanish wouldn’t have had their viceroyalties and control of land in the New World. Everything that’s happened because of the destroying of the civilizations of the indigenous people would practically have not existed. This would all lead up to Mexico having a bigger indigenous influence on the culture, language, religion, and race. The people who would live in the “New World” today would have a more modern twist on the culture, language, etc. People may have still followed the old religion and still follow cultural ways of the different indigenous civilizations. Civilizations may have expanded and affected other parts of the New World. People today, had the Spanish not destroyed the indigenous civilizations, may have had more ties to ancestors that were indigenous people than the Spanish. Although the New World’s history would have a different aspect had the Spanish not destroyed their civilizations, the Old World would have been affected as well. Europe would have had a longer Medieval Period and took longer to start a “Modern Period”. Also they would have not expanded their culture as much, affecting the indigenous people in the New World to keep their culture and have a modern aspect to it. Europe’s economy wouldn’t have skyrocketed from all the silver and gold produced by the New World and many things would have changed in both worlds. The New World today would probably be more economically increasing and the countries would have been richer with all the silver and gold kept than

traded.