The Great Age of Discovery
Prince Henry's expeditions changed history the most because it led to the Great Age of Discovery. The Age of Discovery was also known as the Age of Exploration and it started from the early 1500s to the 1700s where the Europeans explored Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Oceania. The Europeans were looking for goods such as silver and gold, but they were also looking for new trade routes for spices and silk. The trade routes found during the Great Age of Discovery led to many new imports and effects on America.
Crops
Sugar cane imported from Asia
The Americas Explorers brought new crops to the Americas from the Eastern Hemisphere. European crops were brought over, such as barley and rye. Wheat was also brought from the Middle East, were it had first originated. Plants that had first originated from Asia were brought over such as sugar, yams, citrus fruits, coffee, rice, and sugar canes.
The new crops that were brought to America contributed to economy and huge slave societies in America. By the 1600s, the Portuguese were growing sugar, bananas, and citrus on the huge plantations in Brazil and the Caribbeans. African slaves were imported to work on these plantations. This led to the great slave trade that lasted for centuries after and uprooted millions of Africans from their homeland. Africans were gradually moved to the American south to grow cotton, tobacco, rice, and other crops.
The new crops that were brought to America contributed to economy and huge slave societies in America. By the 1600s, the Portuguese were growing sugar, bananas, and citrus on the huge plantations in Brazil and the Caribbeans. African slaves were imported to work on these plantations. This led to the great slave trade that lasted for centuries after and uprooted millions of Africans from their homeland. Africans were gradually moved to the American south to grow cotton, tobacco, rice, and other crops.
Animals
Cattle in the late 1400s
In addition to plants, domesticated animals such as pigs, cows, horses, sheep, and goats were brought from Europe. As an effect, people in North America, Mexico, and South America started breeding horses, cattle, and sheep. With the introduction of cattle, many Americans took up the life of ranching. The cattle took over native lands and areas that the Native Americans grew their food.
In North America, horses changed the way of American life. Horses were used for hunting and welfare. Some groups gave up farming and became nomads who hunted for buffalo.
In North America, horses changed the way of American life. Horses were used for hunting and welfare. Some groups gave up farming and became nomads who hunted for buffalo.
Diseases
Mestizos
Europeans did not just bring plants and animals to America during the Age of Discovery. Along with them also came deadly diseases. The diseases affected the Native Americans the most, as they were not immune to the diseases. The diseases include measles, smallpox, mumps, whooping cough, influenza, chicken pox, and typhus. Millions of Nativists fell sick and died, wiping out almost 90 percent of the Native population.
The lack of population caused Europeans to also turn to African slaves to replace the shortage of workers. This caused the diseases to have an indirect effect on Africa.
The arrival of African slaves changed the makeup of the population in America. The population also changed from the marriages of Europeans and the Native people. The children of these marriages were called mestizos (mixture of races). Africans, Europeans, and mestizos guadually replaced most of the native population.
The lack of population caused Europeans to also turn to African slaves to replace the shortage of workers. This caused the diseases to have an indirect effect on Africa.
The arrival of African slaves changed the makeup of the population in America. The population also changed from the marriages of Europeans and the Native people. The children of these marriages were called mestizos (mixture of races). Africans, Europeans, and mestizos guadually replaced most of the native population.