LEQ #3: Columbian Exchange A. Introduction: Contextualization: In 1492, Christopher Columbus set sail under the Spanish flag to find a westward route to Asia. Instead of doing so, he discovered a new continent. Through a series of interactions with the native people, an exchange of goods took place. This exchange, called the Columbian Exchange, impacted both Europe and the New World. Thesis: For example, the spread of diseases led many to die in both continents. However, new agricultural crops improved the health and living standards of the peoples of these two continents. Argument: Because of exploration and colonization, both European and Native American way of life was changed forever. B. Body paragraph #1: Diseases led to many deaths in both continents. a. Evidence: Diseases brought into the New World included smallpox and malaria. b. Analysis: Smallpox decimated the Native American population. With few Native Americans left, unique cultures and languages were lost. Smallpox led to European conquest and the beginning of European rule. For example, Spanish conquistadors Cortes and Pizarro overthrew advanced Mesoamerican civilizations within a few years. Those remaining became under the rule of the Europeans, and they were often abused or enslaved in Europeans systems such as the Spanish encomienda. Ultimately, Europe began to grow as a dominant world power. c. Evidence: Diseases brought into Europe included polio and syphilis. @. Analysis: Europeans lived in close proximity with each other, so diseases quickly spread. This led to the death of many Europeans. In fact, this was similar to the Black Plague but in smaller scale. Deaths of Europeans were important because there were less people to work and provide jobs, which included ‘working for the king or working as artists, merchants, bankers, and artisans. . Body paragraph #2: New crops improved the quality of life for both peoples, especially Europeans. a. Evidence: Europeans brought sugarcane, livestock, and grains to the New World b. Analysis: Sugarcane was a cash crop, showing that Europeans aimed at colonizing the New World just, to earn money. To plant and harvest sugarcane, labor was needed. To maximize profits, Europeans needed a source of free labor. This led to the beginning of the Atlantic Slave Trade and the exploitation of Native Americans. Livestock in America enabled many Native Americans to live in settlements instead of as hunter-gatherers. Grains meant that there was more food, which meant a higher quality of life for Native Americans. Evidence: Europeans brought back potatoes and corn to their homes. Analysis: The potato was important because it provided nutrition for Europeans, and could be easily grown in poor soil. Poor Europeans began to rely on the potato to eat, leading to better health and stronger people. Thus, people began to focus their lives away from simply trying to get food and survive. As a result, there was a new emphasis on education, learning, and technology, which paved the way to the modern world. D. Conclusion: The discovery of the New” World led to the transferring of ideas through the Columbian Exchange. When Europeans explored the New World, they unknowingly brought their diseases with them, leading to a decimation of the Native American population. However, they also brought diseases back, which worsened their quality of life. Beneficial goods such as agricultural crops helped to improve the life of many Europeans and Native Americans. Synthesis: Ultimately, the negative effects of the Columbian Exchange~ diseases~ were overcome, and the Exchange began a new era of globalization that would shape the modern world.