Question

“Life changed dramatically and forever after 1492 for both the New World and the Old World. Some of these changes were good, and some were bad.” Explain the meaning of the quotation.

Answer 1

Answer:

The arrival of the Europeans in the Americas changed the culture, economy and population of the continent permanently.

Explanation:

The implications of the European arrival in the Americas are possibly endless, but several of the areas which changed the most were:

• Commerce: There was a complex exchange of goods of all kinds established between the Old and New Worlds.
• Population: European diseases took a huge toll on indigenous populations and European migration and the slave trade from Africa changed the demographics of the Americas.
• The political systems of the now independent American countries from Canada to Chile reflect a European political foundation for better or for worse.
• The rich cultures of the Americas were forged from a combination of cultures from three continents.