The Columbian Exchange Reflection Essay
Reflection of The Columbian Exchange
Crosby, Alfred W. “ The Columbian Exchange: Biological and Cultural Consequences of 1492.” Duke University Press, 2003
Before reading this book, when I think of the Columbian Exchange, a song/poem I had to memorize in elementary school about Christopher Columbus comes into my mind. “ In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue, he had three ships and left from Spain, he sailed through sunshine, wind and rain” I see Christopher Columbus setting sail to find his route to the Orient, the “New World” in his three ships; the Niña, Pinta, and Santa María. However, after reading this book, I have gained a new understanding and deep perception of the Columbian Exchange. In The Columbian Exchange, Crosby gives an excellent and detailed chaptered analyse, as well as the histography of the importance of the discovery , clash of biological and cultural consequences between the new and old world. In the beginning of the first chapter, Crosby gives a contrast on how the discovery of the new world, made by Christopher Columbus, and other explores made a huge impact. His analyse of the discovery of the new world brought changes/ideologies in the religious and biological fields. New biological evidence from the plants and animals, to the indigenous Native Americans, questioned many about the monogeneticism of creation. Such scientist such as Charles Darwin developed the evolution theory based on the evidence he saw in the Galapagos Islands.
In the second chapter, Crosby gives his argument on how the Europeans were able to conquer the Americas so easily. Fatal diseases and high mortality-rate among the indigenous native were the key killers in the new world. He gives many examples from primary source evidence such as journals and statements by the European conquistadors and missionaries. In the third chapter, Crosby focuses on the European introduction of their plants and animals to the new world. These introductions changed the
Crosby, Alfred W. “ The Columbian Exchange: Biological and Cultural Consequences of 1492.” Duke University Press, 2003
Before reading this book, when I think of the Columbian Exchange, a song/poem I had to memorize in elementary school about Christopher Columbus comes into my mind. “ In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue, he had three ships and left from Spain, he sailed through sunshine, wind and rain” I see Christopher Columbus setting sail to find his route to the Orient, the “New World” in his three ships; the Niña, Pinta, and Santa María. However, after reading this book, I have gained a new understanding and deep perception of the Columbian Exchange. In The Columbian Exchange, Crosby gives an excellent and detailed chaptered analyse, as well as the histography of the importance of the discovery , clash of biological and cultural consequences between the new and old world. In the beginning of the first chapter, Crosby gives a contrast on how the discovery of the new world, made by Christopher Columbus, and other explores made a huge impact. His analyse of the discovery of the new world brought changes/ideologies in the religious and biological fields. New biological evidence from the plants and animals, to the indigenous Native Americans, questioned many about the monogeneticism of creation. Such scientist such as Charles Darwin developed the evolution theory based on the evidence he saw in the Galapagos Islands.
In the second chapter, Crosby gives his argument on how the Europeans were able to conquer the Americas so easily. Fatal diseases and high mortality-rate among the indigenous native were the key killers in the new world. He gives many examples from primary source evidence such as journals and statements by the European conquistadors and missionaries. In the third chapter, Crosby focuses on the European introduction of their plants and animals to the new world. These introductions changed the