The Columbian Exchange: Was It Worth It?

900 Words2 Pages

The Columbian Exchange is arguably the first real example of globalization, kicked off by Christopher Columbus' arrival on the coasts of San Salvador on October 12, 1492. Although over the years many cultures have intertwined with each other, none have been as influential to the life of the average human, the experiences of world elites, or the geopolitical makeup of the world as the Columbian exchange. In this essay, we will explore the good and bad sides of transatlantic trade, as well as what effect creating a bridge between the old and the new worlds had on modern life, and try to answer the question, Was it worth it? As the Europeans started to cross the Atlantic, they brought with them death, including many diseases such as bubonic plague, …show more content…

As I have already mentioned, one and a half acres of potato farm can deliver a family of six nutrients and vitamins, but only two of which are present in milk or butter. So did potatoes fuel the industrial revolution and subsequent urbanization? The results show that after the 18th century, countries that were more suitable for potato cultivation started experiencing both faster population growth and faster urbanization. This is only a pinch of the data from Nunn and Quin's study, which is one of many such works that suggest such theories. If this is true, which most evidence points to, it would mean that without the Columbian Exchange, there would not be a society as we know it today. There would not be an interconnected world for exchanging ideas and …show more content…

The voyages started by the Spanish shaped many cultures; we already mentioned India and Korea. We can also think of examples like Italian pasta and pizza, Hungarian goulash, and Ivorian attiéké. Thanks to the fruits of the new world being brought to the old world, they changed the lives of hundreds of millions of people, and while in this essay we mostly discussed the European aspects of the story, I strongly encourage diving into the topic on your own. Works Cited Denevan, W. M., "The Native Population of the Americas in 1492." Current Anthropology, vol. 78, no. 1. 20, No. 1 -. 1, 1979, pp. 113-117. 63–79. The 'Secondary' of the 'Secondary'. Mintz, Sidney W. "The Changing Role of Food in the Study of Consumption." Food and Foodways, vol. 78, no. 1, pp. 113-117. 1, No. 1 -. 1, 1985, pp. 113-120. 27–42. The syllable of the syllable. Newson, Linda A. - "The 'Standard'" "Indian Population Patterns in Colonial Spanish America." Latin American Research Review, vol. 78, no. 1, pp. 113 36, No. 2 -. 1, 2001, pp. 113-114. 5–31. The syllables of the

Open Document