European colonization was most evident in the early-modern period through the spread of diseases, plants and animals. The discovery opened the doors for the Columbian trade, which was a major influence on the modern age through the Enlightenment. The Spanish conquistadors met the Aztec Empire and everything changed. Spanish conquistadors conquered the Aztec Empire, which had thousands of tribes. Western Europe was eventually able to develop into major world powers like the British and French.
Their major city (Tenochtitlan), which was their fortress, was located on an islet. It was easy to keep them safe from their enemies, because they were on an island. The mountains made it difficult to conquer. It was only because of that China would not have survived. The Aztecs wouldn’t have a way to escape if there was a siege. Accordingly, geographic features played an important role in the safety of empires. It was easy to use the seas close by as a training ground when sailing across the world.
The Aztecs were colonized by the Spanish, and later discovered by the Portuguese and Europeans. Arriving in these empires that were already established affected the local populations. It is a question of whether or not they will remain with their previous leaders, or switch allegiances to the new leaders. The power balance has shifted when a player new enters the equation. New weaponry and technologies emerged. Europeans appropriated Chinese gunpowder to take it down to South America. There, they used gunpowder as well as weaponry on the locals. This technology allowed them to kill more people. Another factor was disease. Smallpox was introduced by Europeans to the Aztecs. However, this disease also spread back to Spain and Portuguese. The Europeans’ limited immunity made disease a major problem for these two civilizations. Native Americans did not have the same domesticated animals/livestock as Europeans, so they were susceptible to European diseases like smallpox. It was for this reason that they began to use slaves from Africa. Africans were exposed to the smallpox virus because they had cattle. Spanish and Portuguese slaves would import millions of Africans until the late 19th century. In a logical sense, the existence of laws governing ‘properly treating’ natives would suggest that these peoples weren’t treated well to begin. And by reading the actual laws, one can see that Natives are regarded as inferior. In 1545 and in 1552 the Spanish gave up protecting the natives that they could. Instead of tightening restrictions, they simply stopped trying. It was of no consequence, since by 1552 the Native American populations in South America had been decimated. It was not possible to avoid problems like diseases, manual work and language interpretation. They were able kill more than other European powers, including the British. Would the Colombian trade have been different if old-world disease hadn’t played a part? You would have had armies ready to defend your empires on all the continents in America. Native American national consciousness would have benefitted from the sheer number, the preserved organization and the acquisition of Old World technologies and ideas. Their resources, newly acquired technology and social advances would have made them a powerhouse in the world. Natives are the only people who could compete with the Europeans, if they had benefited from the Old World.
The loss of language and culture was significant. There was a loss of culture and language. Not only did they send missionaries but also tried to change the local ways and practices, all under the name of their religion. The effects were felt in Europe where gold, sliver and other resources were extracted. Spanish were very fortunate as they quickly became rich. It took Britain and France a long while to catch up. They were attempting to build fast ships with the ability to travel far because the European powers had seen how quickly Spain had grown. But, the Spanish had already been building quality ships for many years and were therefore much more skilled than the British. The race created rivalries and a new level of competition between colonial powers.
Also, they were involved in the slave-trade. So they would’ve brought back a great deal of slaves which would’ve helped boost production as well. Slaves, who were required to build all the ships and conquer this land or for their cheap labor was needed. Free is the cheapest option. The Columbian exchange was a process where ships were built that could travel from Africa to America, buy slaves, bring sugar, potatoes, gold and tobacco back to Europe. After it began, the Columbian Exchange changed everything. It shaped our culture, our community and even how we think about ourselves. By bringing slaves from Africa to the Americas, the Columbian Exchange has shaped our modern world. Europe gains a level of wealth, competition and technology that is unmatched because it has both the money and the resources to achieve this. The diversity, even in the form of new food supplies, returning to Europe, improves Europeans’ diets, their longevity and overall well-being. Spices, chillies and salt (white Gold) were used as a way to preserve the food during long voyages so people would not starve. India’s spices and chilies aren’t new. The vast majority of spices originated in India. The English came to India in search of these spices. Columbian Exchange promotes the global economy. Many goods were moved from America and Europe to each other. This was also helpful for the slave trade, as many people from Africa were taken from the Gold Coast to America. The event has caused some issues. The legacy of the Columbian exchange is still being felt hundreds of year after the event. The Columbian swap caused the destruction and extinction of many species because of invasive species.
The colonization caused a mass exodus. At that time, hundreds of thousands of Spaniards believed in the Bible. The standing armies of both countries are affected, as is their ability to combat in Europe in comparison to the colonies. The time was one of great turmoil. It was a time of great change. Most of all, because South American and North American indigenous people would not have become Christian without the conquistadors. They probably would still sacrifice each other’s lives to the Sun deity. The European invaded America, murdered Americans and were called barbarians. In the past, many early empires did terrible things for the sake of wealth, power, or land.
The Aztecs exchanged horses for colonists who could now travel far distances. They were also able to continue fighting in the Aztec realm long after the Aztecs. The landscape and agricultural practices were changed. The Spanish arrived and they had to feed them. They began using horses to pull ploughs. The landscape was changed by the mass cultivation. Plant species were exchanged for biological and scientific reasons. This meant that land use changed. The Aztecs had developed complex classification systems to catalog plants, flowers and herbs. They also created the first Botanical Garden.
The way in which other civilisations interact with the land is changing.
So, colonisation by Europeans in America totally changed the relationship human societies have with their environments. There’s the cultural practices and how they interact with their environment.
Colonialism was necessary for the Industrial Revolution and the Enlightenment. The darkest chapter in human history was essential for today’s world to exist. The meeting of the two planets was inevitable, as the crops had to be mixed and spread across the globes. It happens. This has been happening since before the human race was born, and will continue to happen in the future. Trees die, plants die, animals die, and even humans die. For the time being, gene pools are depleted. With time they will flourish again. Long-term, the hardier plants will benefit the earth and humans. The people in ‘New Worlds’ suffered instantly and the “Old Worlds” are beginning to see problems with the environment. The Columbian Exchange in the Americas and the colonization were only two steps of many that brought us to where we are today.