The colombian exchange essays

The colombian exchange essays When Columbus sailed over in 1492 he had no idea how his voyage was going to affect the old and new worlds. Christopher Columbus first journeyed to find Asia brought him to the Americas and forever changed the course of history for both. The exchange of ideas, technology, maladies, livestock and agriculture forever changed these two societies. Alfred Crosbys book The Colombia exchange focuses on the different ways that the old and the new world clashed and what results they had on each other. It goes on to tell about the events. The Europeans brought with them to the new world a different way of agriculture, domesticated large animals and an array of diseases that the new world has never seen. They also brought along with them there ideals of superiority and a strong hold on a culture they did not want to let go of. The exchange brought about the European mentality that any place they conquer and colonies should assimilate to there way of life. The book touches upon the contrast and differences that the two cultures encounter. It also speaks of the native people and how they were affected by the influx of people into there land. The two cultures were baffled by each other the Europeans had emerged from the middle ages with intellectual systems, Christian and Aristotelian claimed by orthodox ... to explain everything from the first and last ticks of history ... these systems proved too cramped to accommodate the new world(Crosby 9). Plants and crops were a major part of the Colombian exchange. Maize, potatoes and other flora were all key figures that helped shape the diets of all the people in the world. The landscape of the new world was also heavily affected by this exchange, the topography of the new world changed. The book by Crosby explores the different influences that the two culture that of the new world and that of the old world, had on each other. Crosby tries to prove his thesis by showing examples of h...