Age Of Discovery

“There are some scholars who would argue that “the Age of Discovery” should be called “the Age of Destruction.”. I agree and disagree with the statement because it was in fact the “Age of Discovery” because transculturation along with the spread of Christianity began and there was an increase of agriculture and economy. Nevertheless, it too, is appropriate to be called the “Age of Destruction” because the birth of diseases affected the entire population, enslavement with the African Americans caused hardships and the destruction of the villages where the Native Americans resided came about.

The “Age of Discovery” opened opportunities for many people. Agriculture was at an all-time high with the newly discovered foods such as cacao, potatoes,
Diseases like anemia, smallpox, influenza, typhus, arthritis, tuberculosis, and malaria plagued Africa and the Americas. Our immune system is much stronger than of those back then because the advancement of medicine, science, and technology has helped our immune system adapt to several diseases. In the 15th century, the peoples’ immune system was weak since bacteria came mostly from the conquistadores and the animals. Once the conquistadores inhabited the Americas, the took hostage many Native Americans, mistreating them and destroying their homes. No thanks to the Atlantic Slave Trade, many African Americans were forced to work in terrible conditions and they toiled all day and all evening either working in the fields attending the crops, or as housemaids serving the Europeans. I understand that Since the discovery of Brazil in the late 1500s, the Portuguese crown felt it was a moral obligation for the colonies to be a civilized, family oriented community under Christianity, but there are other methods as to convert people with kindness, not
Although many of these diseases were discovered and destroyed many lives, without it, further expansion of medicine and science would have never taken place to create immunity to the bacteria. The expansion of Christianity in the 1500s, shaped America today with our country based upon Christian values, was there another way to convert the Native Americans without the involvement of violence? Yes, but in the long run it benefits us today. I understand that morals and ideologies shape who we are as individuals, but unfortunately both peace and violence played their parts into shaping an entire country and we cannot have extreme sides. A more peaceful approach would “spare” our morals and shape a country with no leadership. A more violent approach would turn us as barbarians creating genocides and enslaving innocent lives. Both sides give convincing arguments. Back then, we needed both sides to create progress. If there is no struggle, there is no