How the American Exchange Shaped the Modern World Between 1500 and 1800.

The American Exchange

Mid-Term Essay Exam

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HISTORY 121

How the American Exchange shaped the modern world between 1500 and 1800.

   The American Exchange shaped the modern world with the arrival of Columbus and Cortez, the Atlantic Slave Trade, and the eventual globalization that affected nearly every Nation economically or with the human toll. Initially, explorers such as Columbus sought to establish trade routes with Asia and India that were shorter and more advantageous for European traders. In the process Columbus stumbled across the Caribbean, which brought about the first trade route to the Americas. Soon the riches of America were realized and large numbers of Europeans began to stake their claim, bringing with them plants, animals, and disease never seen in the new world.  The influence of the American Exchange had changed the world faster than any other geographic discovery and catapulted the world into a global commerce.  

   The newly discovered lands brought wealth to the trading nations as they discovered silver and gold among the indigenous people. The greed rallied the spirits and a race ensued as conquistadors staked their claims in the new lands.  The riches quickly shaped the military with their ability to increase their sailing fleets, protecting their new interests. Shipbuilding soared with increased natural resources supplying the demand of bringing people to the Americas. The discovery of tradable goods was not limited to the mineral and timber resources but also included potatoes, maize, and other agricultural products.

   The fertile lands led to the spread of African, Asian, and European crops to America, increasing the quality of life for some and enslavement for others.  Food crops and seeds from America were traded globally and greatly benefited the population growth of the world.

   The Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes played a leading role in shaping the new world through the conquest of modern day Mexico.  In the early 1500s Cortes, with the discovery of incredible wealth among the Aztec Empire used his modern military tactics and technology to defeat Montezuma and end an era of native rule.  The Aztecs were at a disadvantage militarily but did possess a well-fortified city that brought difficulties for the Spanish to overcome. On his heals, Cortes withdrew and remounted a complex attack after starving the small pox ridden empire who didn’t have the strength left to resist.    

   Epidemics were the single largest contributor to the success of European dominance in the new world. Native armies were weakened to a point of little resistance and the Europeans took full advantage. Much more than lives were lost in these battles, the tangible memorabilia was pillaged and the ancient architecture destroyed, leaving a gap in the historical records of the natives.

   The settlement on new lands came with the cost paid in human toll through the spread of disease and with massive displacement and enslavement. The indigenous population that didn’t succumb to death in battle faced an invisible enemy that dwindled their numbers and ability to resist invasion.  Small Pox and influenza, among other diseases had an incredible effect on the shaping of the Americas as the indigenous population died and their lands quickly seized by new settlers. Although generally outnumbered the conquistadors took every opportunity to destroy native infrastructure, causing the indigenous people to move from their lands and seek refuge somewhere else.  In just over a century, disease and conquest collapsed the American Indians, Aztecs, Incas, and countless others which would never recover.