Positive Impacts of Christopher Columbus’ Voyages.

Christopher Columbus
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
Christopher Columbus
Introduction
Christopher Columbus is regarded as one the greatest explorer, mariner and a controversial historical figures. Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy in 1451. Columbus had little education just like most of the people of that era. In his early Columbus made a lot of voyages with fishermen and merchants along the Mediterranean coastline where he learned about map making and geography. Together with his team, he sailed across the Atlantic Ocean in search of a sea route to India and other parts of Asia since Caravans was the only way to trade with the east. Columbus made four voyages; the first in 1492, the second voyage in 1493, the third in 1498 and the final in one 1502. During these expeditions, Columbus stumbled across America when he arrived in the Caribbean islands, in the quest of looking for the sea routes to Asia. For instance, the first trip focused on commercial revolution and generated economic stability, whereas the second caravan was more about exploration. Today, Christopher Columbus is regarded as the discoverer of America, the land that was characterized by gold, silver, and emeralds. Columbus trips to the New World has always triggered divided sentiments from historians where some have stared him as a hero while others viewed him as a villain. Consequently, as Columbus expeditions marked the era of conquest and explorations, the voyages brought both positive and negative effects to the New World.
Positive Impacts of Christopher Columbus’ Voyages.
First, Columbus trip to the Americas opened up the region to significant exploration and conquest. After the first voyage, Columbus made other three subsequent voyages to the New World between 1493 and 1503 (Mann, 2012). Columbus voyages across the Atlantic pioneered new sailing and navigating techniques that helped the subsequent sailors. Columbus first trip introduced the New World to other sailors since he went back to report his discovery to other Europeans, hence making it simpler for them to reach (Mann, 2012). Precisely, the arrival of Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria encouraged Europeans from countries such as England, Portugal, France and Russia to traverse the New World. Later, they established a permanent colony in the New World, and this marked the beginning of the full-scale invasion that contributed to rush for the exchange of resources (Mann, 2012). Thus, with the aid of Columbus routes and maritime techniques, many Europeans traveled more safely and even further.
Second, Columbus visit left an impact on the Americans’ social-culture. The mainland of America and the Caribbean was primordially inhibited by a group of people dubbed as the Arawaks; also called the Native Americans (Specht & Stockland, 2017). The native societies in those regions were universaly assimilated by the subsequent European explorers who followed Columbus. For instance, the coming of Europeans led to the conquering of the Aztec colony and creation of the New Spain. Particularly, the Caribbean natives went through cultural concoction as they mixed with that of Spain to generate a completely new culture (Mann, 2012). The Arawaks were very primitive but through assimilation with the Europeans, they became more organized as they were exposed to new ideas and skills (Mann, 2012). For instance, Columbus and his team brought along new technologies such as fancy clothes, guns, ships, and shiny trinkets that impressed the Native Americans. In addition, the natives were introduced to Christianity and later became more civilized (Specht & Stockland, 2017). Columbus was a gregarious person who made friends with the natives when necessary to foster collaboration. In the end, Columbus and his team also learned more about the culture and art of the locals.
Third, Columbus caravans led to the exchange of economic resources between the New World and the European land. While As Columbus team sourced valuable material such as gold, silver, emeralds, the offered animals, and plants in exchange (Zinn, 2015). For instance, the new world received animals such as cows, oxen, pigs, sheep, horses, and donkeys. Particularly, cows and oxen were taken to Mexico in 1521 and turned out to be valuable resources since it not only became a source of food but also resourceful in pulling cats with heavy loads (Zinn, 2015). Pigs and sheep became an important source of food as well. Horses facilitated the transport systems as it allowed traders and hunters to travel greater distances within a short period (Specht & Stockland, 2017). As the New World received plants such as sugar cane, bananas, coffee, rice, barley and wheat, the old world received plants such as potatoes, corns cassava, avocado, pineapple, tomatoes, beans, strawberries, and manioc (Specht & Stockland, 2017).
Lastly, the exchange of resources between the New World and the Old World encouraged trading that consequently boosted their economy and environment respec...