Vittoria Colonna represented renaissance ideals because Vittoria Colonna was a well known writer, the first secular woman to achieve a high level of literary status in Italy for venacular production, and her example opened the way for subsequent women writers to publish in all manner of genres. She devoted her later years to religion and literature, Michelangelo called her his "sun of suns" and credited her strength for lifting him closer to God.
Well since everyone was going to California for it they didn't have as much workers. They also didn't get any gold so if anything they did not benefit at all.
I think the people today would still be more ignorant of whats out there and their would be a big difference of society today due to lesser intermix of races and culture. But eventually no one can prevent someone to explore due to curiousity.
