Ecological Imperialism in World History Essay

Impact of the European discovery of the Americas

The European colonization of America is recorded to have started in 1492. Christopher Columbus, who was heading a Spanish expedition, was looking for new routes to get to the Far East when he realized the vast lands. Most of the Americans were native Indians at the time. The realization by Columbus that another continent existed prompted Europe to try colonizing it. It provided vast lands that could be used for agriculture. The colonization of America led to many other events that were recorded in history.

One of the greatest impacts of the colonization of America by Europe is the Columbian Exchange. As the name might suggest, the Columbian Exchange was initiated by Christopher Columbus. It was a form of trade that involved the exchange of animals, plants, and human beings who were considered slaves among different cultures. These exchanges also led to cultural exchanges. According to Gentilcore (34), there was also the spread of communicable diseases and technology, among other important bits of knowledge from one culture to another during these exchanges. The Columbian Exchange was relevant as it led to the introduction of different crops in Europe and other parts of the world. Columbus went back to Europe with potatoes, maize, and tomatoes, which were in high demand. Gentilcore (34) argues that the biggest global impact of the conquest of America was the introduction of different foods in different communities. For example, African merchants were given peanuts and other forms of nuts that were not available on their continent. This mixture of foods from different places led to agricultural exploitation. People tried to plant the crops that they got from the exchange in their homelands.

The conquest of America also led to ecological imperialism. This is a concept that tries to explain why Europeans were able to conquer America and most of their other territories. The concept is that the Europeans introduced many positive factors in these new lands. However, they also introduced new diseases that made the communities weak. Therefore, the impact of the conquest of America is that it led to the introduction of new diseases to different countries. Gentilcore (34) argues that the Europeans were explorers, thus they traveled all over the world. They would collect pathogens and take them to the next community that they met. This led to the spread of diseases. Another impact that was borne out of ecological imperialism was the increase in European settlers in America. Taylor (280) explains that even though the Europeans also got sick, the Native Americans were more affected by the diseases that the Europeans had carried compared to the diseases that they gave the Europeans.

There are many other consequences of the colonization of America by Europe. The colonization of America was felt all over the world, including in Spain, Asia, Africa, and Europe. The conquest also had several impacts on the Europeans themselves. One impact that the conquest had on Europe is that America was used as an easier route for getting to Asia. This led to more trade between Asia and Europe. The conquest also affected Africa as many of the European farmers who settled in America took Africans as slaves. This, in turn, led to the colonization of Africa.

In conclusion, there are many historical events that happened because of the conquest of America. The Americans suffered various diseases, but they also became learned and acquired different ways of farming. Europe also extended its reach by conquering America, thereby gaining a lot of economic benefits from colonizing America.

Slavery

Slavery was one of the most fast-moving economic trades during the 15th century. There were various slavery camps and the slave trades were named according to the sea route that they used. The Atlantic Slave trade, as the name suggests, relied on the Atlantic Ocean to function. Many of the Atlantic Ocean slaves were African in origin.

The Atlantic Slave trade ran between the 16th and the 19th centuries. This was a period when Europe was acquiring territories all over the world, including America, which was referred to as the New World. The Atlantic slave trade was very successful as it also boosted the economy of the South Atlantic regions. The movement of slaves from one continent to another ensured that there were always merchants ready to trade. This, in turn, boosted the economic systems of the places involved. The slaves that were acquired from the Atlantic Slave trade were mostly Africans. The Europeans would purchase them from their fellow Africans and then go all over the world selling them (Christopher 1730). The very first group to have an interest in the Atlantic slave trade was the Portuguese. The Portuguese were interested as they acknowledged the fact that whoever was to control the slave trade would also control that part of the sea. Seapower was very influential back then.

The Atlantic slave trade had several impacts on Africa, America, and Europe. One of the impacts of the Atlantic slave trade on America was that it led to an increase in the black population in America. Bradley and Cartledge (583) argue that all the black population that was found in America between the 14th and the 17th century had been born into and out of slavery. The slave trade also led to the continued expansion of Europe into other continents, like Africa. The slave trade opened doors for Europeans to explore Africa. This later led to the colonization of the continent. Christopher (1730) argues that the Atlantic slave trade also affected Europe by making it more powerful than it had been. Some of the slaves were also taken to Europe to help with industrialization.

Another impact of the Atlantic slave trade is that it led to proto-industrialization and capitalism. Capitalism is an economic system that revolves around the idea that people can make and accumulate wealth according to their ability. Proto-industrialization, on the other hand, is the period in time that saw the organizing, planning, and testing of the concepts that led to proto-industrialization and capitalism. One of the common factors that were associated with this time was an increase in agricultural activities. Bradley and Cartledge (583) argue that it is the slave-based plantation labor that gave birth to these two concepts. These authors argue that the slaves were used as both humans and machines in the fields. When scientists realized that they could make machines that would work faster than human slaves, they decided to give it a try. This, in turn, led to the industrial revolution, which then led to capitalism.

In conclusion, one of the greatest impacts of the Atlantic Slave Trade was the industrial revolution. There would have been no industrial revolution if there were no slaves. However, a more direct impact of the Atlantic slave trade that has been discussed is the introduction of the black population in America.

The Rise of New Empires

The 15th century was marked by the rise of very many complex empires. This can be attributed to the fact that many countries were looking for colonies and the building of empires was seen as a stronger way of getting the desired colonies. Two of the most influential empires during this century were the Ottoman Empire and the Inca Empire. The two empires were built in different cultures, thus they employed different ways of governing their people. They also had different ways of solving their problems.

The Ottoman Empire was built in modern-day Turkey. It was founded by Osman Bey in the 13th century, but it became aggressive in the 15th century. The empire was put on the world’s radar after it defeated Constantinople in 1453. In the 15th century, the Ottoman Empire was also among the empires that were competing for colonies from all over the world, including Africa and Asia. It became one of the world’s most powerful empires and states in the early 16th century under the leadership of Suleiman the Magnificent. The empire was very economically stable due to the numerous colonies that it had acquired. It also had full control of the Mediterranean Basin (Faroqhi 153)

The Inca Empire, on the other hand, was the largest Empire in pre–Columbian America. The empire also arose in the 13th century, but it became famous and influential in the 15th century. According to McEwan (27), the Inca used any means possible to get colonies. They would resort to assimilation in some parts of the world, while they would resort to violence in other parts. Many of their colonies were, however, concentrated in South America.

As mentioned, the administration and the governing structure of these two empires differed. The Inca’s administration was led by the Sapa Inca. After the Sapa Inca was the high priest. The high ranking of the high priest shows that the empire was very spiritual. The Sapa Inca also had a confidant who helped him make tough decisions about the empire. The Inca Empire also had a council of the realm, which had 16 members. The work of the council was to settle internal disputes, even though they would settle external disputes sometimes. The Ottoman Empire’s administration was led by the leader of the empire (Faroqhi 153). The leader of the empire employed different heads to lead the different provinces as the empire was divided into provinces. He was not directly involved with the people as compared to the leader of the Inca Empire.

As mentioned, both empires had colonies. This meant that the Ottoman Empire had to trade and to interact with people of various cultures and ethnicities. The Ottoman Empire had a difficult time interacting with cultures that believed in Christianity. However, it made the initiative to convert many of the citizens of its colonies to Islam. This brought an understanding between the empire and the different colonized groups. McEwan (27) explains that the Inca Empire was not very accommodating and would resort to violence if there were cultural conflicts.

Works Cited

Bradley, Keith & Paul Cartledge. The Cambridge World History of Slavery: Volume 1, The Ancient Mediterranean World. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2011. Print.

Christopher, Emma. Slave Ship Sailors and Their Captive Cargoes: 1730-1807. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006. Print.

Faroqhi, Suraiya. Subjects of the Sultan: Culture and Daily Life in the Ottoman Empire. London, UK: I.B. Tauris, 2005. Print.

Gentilcore, David. Pomodoro!: A History of the Tomato in Italy. New York, NY: Columbia University Press, 2010. Print.

McEwan, Gordon Francis. The Incas: New Perspectives. New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Co., 2008. Print.

Taylor, Alan. American Colonies: The Settling of North America (The Penguin History of the United States, Volume1). New York, NY: Penguin Books, 2002. Print.