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Making a Choice
Name: Heidi Anderson
Date: October 1, 2008
The Columbian Exchange 1500s in Latin America/ In Mexico affecting the Aztec
empire 1519
Hypothesis:
The Columbian exchange coined by the historian Alfred Crosby, jr. in 1972 was a
term invented to describe the outcomes of the discovery of the New World by
Christopher Columbus. The Columbian exchange had terrible effects on the
Indigenous people of Latin America. Through the discovery of the Americas
(1492) many foreign plants, animals, and diseases were brought to the New
World causing great sickness and loss. Although some of the plants and animals
benefited the new world in the long term through population growth it was
negative when it came to the spread of disease. This event is important to us
today because we are living in a global world where many of our products come
from other countries. In recent news there has been fear of the spread of disease
from such countries as China. The event also could have been quite different if
the Indigenous people were immune to the diseases. They might have been able
to fight off the conquest and kept their lands. The world would be a much
different place if the Columbian exchange had not taken place.
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Main Characters & Words That Describe
Them:
Christopher Columbus and other European
mariners:
Explorers, conquest, discovery, search for
new resources
Cortez:
Fighter, brutal, conquer
Indigenous people of Latin America/Aztec
people of Mexico:
Strong, proud, weakened.
Main Events:
1492 Christopher Columbus sailed to the
New World bringing with him other
Europeans, animals, plants, and disease.
After Columbus landed diseases such as
smallpox, and measles wiped out roughly
95 percent of the Indigenous population
in Mexico.
This made it easier for Cortez to gain
control of the New World for Spain. In
1521 Cortez conquered the Aztec people of
Mexico. The Indigenous people were
weakened from disease, and were willing
to sign treaties.
Some long term effects of the Columbian
Exchange were positive. Later the
exchange caused population growth,
because of the spread of food crops and
animals that were introduced.
Where? / When?
The Columbian Exchange began in Latin
America in 1492. It began where Columbus
originally landed in the Caribbean islands.
Disease spread to the Aztec empire in
Tenochtitlan (Mexico) and beyond.
Problem, Conflict, or Goal
Outcome:
What is the Significance of this Historical
Event?
The effects of the Columbian exchange were
devastating to the Indigenous people. Many
died, or gave up their land.
Long term outcome more positive with the
growth of population due to the new food
added to the New World diet.
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Problem:
Introducing disease to a people not
immune to it.
The Columbian exchange is significant
because the New World was conquered
partly due to the spread of disease.
Things may have been different if the
Indigenous people were immune to the
foreign bodies. The event is also
significant because of the ongoing
problems that we face today due from our
global trade. Example fear of the mad cow
disease from tainted meat.
Cause / Effect
Possible Causes: The cause of the Columbian exchange was Europeans coming to
the Americas. With them they brought disease that their people at home could
face, but the Indigenous people did not have the immune system to fight against
these never before seen sicknesses.
Possible Effects: If the Columbian exchanged never took place then the New
World could have turned out to be much different. One of the reasons Indigenous
people lost their land to the Spanish is that they were too weak, and disease
stricken to fight for their land.
Effects: The Indigenous people of Latin America lost their land, and the land
belonged to Spain. Many Indigenous people died due to European illness.
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Proof Organizer: References that are Statements to Support your Choice
1. Bentley, J.H., Ziegler, H.F. (2003). Tradition and encounters: A global
perspective on the past. New York: McGraw Hill. 629-631.
Proof: This source gives an excellent summary of the Columbian exchange. It
stresses that the exchange made huge changes in history, was one of the worst
epidemics, and population decline in history.
2. Restall, M. (2003). Seven myths of the Spanish conquest. New York: Oxford
University Press.
Proof: This source is all about taking the myths away from the conquest of Latin
America by the Spanish. Often the Spanish are portrayed as having fought off all
the Indigenous people, but the reality is that the diseases in which they brought
killed most of the population before they could stand against them.
3. Martin, C.E., Wasserman, M. (2005). Latin America and its people. New York:
Pearson Longman. 67-71.
Proof: This source describes the effects that Columbian exchange had on the
people. It explains the spread of disease, and how this was an advantage to later
conquers such as Cortez in the Aztec empire.
4. Chasteen, J. (2006). Born in blood & fire: A concise history of Latin America.
New York: W.W Norton & Company. 25-48
Proof: This source gives a quick rundown of the discovery and conquest of the
New World by the Spanish. The chapter focuses on the defeat of the Inca and
Aztec empires. Once again disease spread by the Columbian exchange is one of
the reasons in which Cortez’s army with few soldiers was able to take the Aztec
empire.
5. (1996). Encyclopedia of North American Indians: Columbian exchange.
Boston: Houghton Mifflin. Retrieved September 30, 2008 from elibrary database.
Proof: This source gives a quick definition of the Columbian Exchange useful for
students who are first researching the topic.
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