Negative Effects Of The Columbian Exchange

Although the arrival of Christopher Columbus to the New World did not bode well for the Native Americans, he sparked a momentous, cross-cultural trade of ideas, goods, and alas, diseases. Known as the Columbian Exchange, it ultimately left a lasting positive effect on both the New World and the Old World in spite of short-term deadly epidemics. The world would likely be very different if it were not for the Columbian Exchange. To illustrate, the introduction of European grains such as wheat, barley, and rye to the Americas proved extremely beneficial for the world, even in the present. According to The Columbian Exchange by John R. McNeill, wheat thrived in the temperate climates of the Americas and in the highlands of Mexico. As a result, it eventually became a fundamental source of sustenance for millions upon millions of people in the Americas. Furthermore, the wheat crop flourished in the Americas so much that by the 20th century, wheat exports from Canada, the US, and Argentina were feeding millions of people outside the Americas. In essence, the influx of grain crops from Europe and Asia to the Americas played a key role in the Columbian Exchange's long-term effect on the globe.

As stated by the aforementioned article, The Columbian Exchange by John R. McNeill, large ranches emerged in the savannas of Venezuela and Argentina, as well as on the expansive grasslands that stretched from northern Mexico to the Canadian prairies. Because of this, a stable source of economy was established in the Americas. Not to mention, the horse, specifically, caused a breakthrough in the way Native Americans hunted. Referring back to the document, it states that because of having the horse on their side, they were able to chase buffalo far more effectively. To put it briefly, the arrival of Eurasian wild animals to the Americas changed the New World