Why columbian exchange most influential aspect is microbes ?, History

Assignment Help:

Why were microbes the most influential aspect of the Columbian exchange?

Smallpox and Other Diseases-The most influential aspect of the Columbian exchange, however, was the exchange of microbes, viruses and germs. Because Europeans had a long history of exposure to many diseases, and because many Europeans lived in somewhat densely populated towns and cities, they had acquired some immunity to disease. Smallpox, measles, and many other diseases were carried across the Atlantic beginning with Columbus's voyage. Indians, in contrast, had no exposure to many European diseases, and many Indians lived in sparsely settled areas, so that viruses did not spread widely or rapidly.

When Indians encountered viruses for which they had no immunity, these diseases spread very rapidly and produced disastrous results. As much as three-quarters of Indians, and in some areas upwards of ninety percent of them, were killed by smallpox and other diseases. Smallpox left the skin covered with sores and usual proved fatal. The sudden drop in Indian populations proved calamitous for many Indians, wiping out villages, leaving Indians too ill to care for one another, and even undercutting Indians' faith in their own culture. Because the existence of microbes was unknown until centuries later, Indians could only wonder why so many of their people fell sick and died while most white men did not. Because Indians believed that the world was full of spirits, they despaired, wondering why the spirits seemed to favor Europeans. Both physically and spiritually, epidemics ravaged Indian societies.


Related Discussions:- Why columbian exchange most influential aspect is microbes ?

Cold war in europe and asia, Compare how the Cold War in Europe and the Col...

Compare how the Cold War in Europe and the Cold War in Asia had similar beginnings. Then in one or two paragraphs, explain how the two were different from each other. Which region

Revenue acts contained one remaining tax, The repeal of the Revenue Acts co...

The repeal of the Revenue Acts contained one remaining tax that would lead to what?

Which article of the constitution tells us, Which Article of the Constituti...

Which Article of the Constitution tells us how to change the constitution if it needs to be done?

Conflicts associated with the government''s response, How does the governme...

How does the government respond? What are the conflicts associated with the government's response?

Colonize the americas rather than the chinese, For centuries, China was a p...

For centuries, China was a politically, economically, and technologically superior civilization. What explains the rise of Europe in the 1400s? Why were Europeans the ones to disco

Causes of the collapse of the soviet union, Roskin discusses three theories...

Roskin discusses three theories about causes of the collapse of the Soviet Union. • Choose one of these theories and explain how it relates to the collapse of the USSR, and assess

Core of radical islam, "In a paper of four pages, please explain the ideas ...

"In a paper of four pages, please explain the ideas as the core of radical Islam, as embodied in Seyyid Qutb's work, Milestones." As the prompt says, the essay is to draw heavil

Battles considered critical to the outcome of the war, Why were the followi...

Why were the following battles considered critical to the outcome of the war: Antietam; Gettysburg; Vicksburg; Chattanooga; Atlanta?

Show the elements of the new republican party of the 1980s, What were the v...

What were the various elements of the new Republican party of the 1980s? What different issues did they target and how did these issues emerge out of the 1970s? How did this new po

How did the american secretary of state stop, How did the American Secretar...

How did the American Secretary of State stop the conflict when Britain and Venezuela found themselves in a border dispute in 1895? A. By threatening war with Britain through The

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd