Discuss the legacies and consequences of Christopher Columbus’s excursion into the “New World”. How was his voyage in 1492 during the “Scientific Revolution” important to Europe and what opportunities or drawbacks did his presence represent during this period of world history? What groups were the most impacted and why?
Describe the Spanish conquest into the “New World” and in particular its impacts on Indigenous and Amerindian cultures in the Americas. How and when did Hernan Cortez Conquer Central Mexico and the Aztec Empire which was vastly larger than the men he had with him on the mission? What made this conquest unique?
Christopher Columbus’s excursion into the “New World”.
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Second, Columbus's voyage led to the European colonization of the Americas. This colonization had a devastating impact on Native American populations. Millions of Native Americans were killed, enslaved, or forced to convert to Christianity. European colonists also brought with them diseases that killed many Native Americans.
Third, Columbus's voyage ushered in the Scientific Revolution. Europeans began to learn about the natural world of the Americas, which led to new discoveries in astronomy, botany, and zoology. For example, Columbus's crew brought back new plants and animals to Europe, such as tomatoes, potatoes, and turkeys. These new foods helped to improve the diet of Europeans.
The Spanish conquest of the Americas was a brutal and bloody affair. The Spanish conquistadors, led by Hernán Cortés, were vastly outnumbered by the Aztecs, but they were able to defeat them through a combination of superior technology, tactics, and disease.
Sample Answer
Christopher Columbus's voyage to the Americas in 1492 had a profound impact on the world. It led to the European colonization of the Americas, which had a devastating impact on Native American populations. Columbus's arrival also ushered in the Scientific Revolution, as Europeans began to learn about the natural world of the Americas.
The impact of Columbus's voyage can be seen in a number of ways. First, it led to the Columbian Exchange, the transfer of plants, animals, and diseases between the Old and New Worlds. This exchange had a profound impact on both Europe and the Americas. For example, the introduction of horses, pigs, and cattle to the Americas led to the destruction of much of the Native American way of life. The introduction of diseases such as smallpox and measles killed millions of Native Americans.