Answer to Question #143720 in History for andrew

Question

Explain the geographic context for the historical developments of European Exploration in the New World and how colonization impacted the Native Americans.

Answer 1

The New World or age of exploration took place between fifteenth and seventeen centuries with the expansion of European to places such as the Americas, Africa, and far East by explorers such as Ferdinand Magellan and Vasco da Gama. The main reason for these explorations was competition between countries like Spain, England, Portugal, France, and Netherlands.

There was also the need to spread christianity across the globe as well as acquisition of wealth through trade of gold, silver and spice; fame; and national pride. The search for better trading routes also sparked overseas to explorations especially to India.

Colonization impacted the native Americans in several ways both negatively and positively. Negatively, it ushered in diseases that affected the populations for instance, small pox, influenza, and measles. It also led to mass slavery of Africans that provided labor for cash crops growing such as sugar and tobacco especially in Chesapeake Bay colonies. It also led to wars through the introduction of guns. Finally, it disrupted many ecosystems that brought in new organisms that eliminated others.

Positively, there was spread of christianity across the globe, introduced foreign goods such as spices, mirrors, and animals such as pigs. It also led to the mapping of the world that resulted to a new world view and distant civilization coming into contact.