The arrival of the Europeans (1450 – 1500) – at the onset of the 15th century, the Europeans had invented groundbreaking maritime technology. Their inventions were motivated by the desire to explore the rest of the world, Asia being the main target, thanks to its lucrative trade pioneered by Indians and the Chinese. The Europeans’ imperial ambition to explore the oceans saw the Asia-bound Spaniards land in North America. The arrival of the Europeans in America was of great significance to the entire world as it marked the beginning of the trans-oceanic trade, especially then that the great barrier between Europe and the new lands, the Atlantic Ocean, had opened up as the most reliable highway. This saw the birth of the transoceanic trade – an enterprise that would later make Europe the most powerful continent. (133 words)
Christopher Columbus (1492) – on a mission to anchor on the Asian coast to christen the eastern populations and acquire some valuables especially spices and minerals, Christopher Columbus found his three ship feet anchoring at a small island – modern day Bahamas. Columbus and his crew arrived in Bahamas on the 12th day of October 1492. The significance of Christopher Columbus is founded on the fact that he and his sailors are the people behind the discovery of the Caribbean islands. During his journey, Columbus wrote a comprehensive report, with the main topic being the vulnerability of the native Taino people. With his big ship being grounded, he obliged 33 of his crewmen to stay behind to keep guard of their new territory – the Caribbean. In March 1493, Christopher Columbus arrived back home to receive a hero’s welcome from King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. Christopher Columbus’ journey is of historical significance because, even if he did not reach his intended destination, Asia, he had discovered a highway to wealth. (167 words)
The new world (the Americas – 1500) – the explorers that came after Columbus expanded on the various editions of his report. They established that Columbus had found a new world, and they sought to give the new world an identity in the world geography. In 1497, the king of England employed John Cabot, an explorer to give a comprehensive report on the so-called new world and explore Asia. On his way to Asia, Cabot landed on the northern coast of modern day America. In the same year, a fleet left Spain led by Pedro Alvares. The Pedro and the fleet landed on the coast of Brazil. Amerigo Vespucci is the explorer who extensively explored the entire coast of South America. Later explorers named the new continent America, a name that came up as a variant of Amerigo. This is important as it marked the discovery of the America’s. (147 words)
Hispaniola (1508) – when the Spaniards landed on the Caribbean islands, they named the most significant Island Hispaniola, in honor of their motherland. In 1508, 45 vessels from Spain had arrived at Hispaniola. They brought new crops, especially sugarcane, animals such as cattle, sheep, mules, horses and pigs. The coming of the Spaniards marked the long domination over the native Taino. The significance of Hispaniola is that it is the core of transatlantic trade, which was later to be referred to as the triangular trade. However, due to the varying climatic conditions, the Spaniards were weakened by disease, hunger and other calamities. They were weakened and vulnerable. The viral diseases also affected the Taino people, killing more than 200000 of them. (120 words)
Ecological imperialism (1510 – 1710) – this refers to a regime that saw the Europeans introduce new plants and animals in the new lands. Ecological imperialism saw the Europeans try to introduce their way of farming in the Americas. They dealt in such things as honeybees, sheep, horses, pigs, mules and cattle. Additionally, they brought in such domesticated plants as wheat, rye, oats grapevines and grasses. However, the ecological imperialism came along with some negatives such as pathogens and rats. While there were rats in America before, the ones from Europe were bigger and dangerous to crops. The ecological imperialism is, however, particularly significant since it marked the introduction of agricultural products to the transatlantic trade. (114 words) (Total: 683 words)
