Effects Of Colonization
Effect of Colonization on Europe and the Americas Colonization of the Americas by European nations was a significant historical event that began in the 15th century. Starting with Portugal’s forays into overseas exploration, the phenomenon soon spread to different European countries, with Spain and Portugal divvying up the South American continent. Discoveries in the new world led to economic growth in Europe. Meanwhile, introduction of European ideas led to an overhaul of the Native American economy. The introduction of the Christian religion also impacted the natives severely. Arguably the most powerful effect of colonization, however, was the effect of disease, which decimated the native population. Overall, colonization of the Americas impacted Europeans and Native Americans in terms of economy, religion, and disease, eventually leading to extreme European influence and power in America. One of the most striking effects of colonization was the amount of pure wealth generated through the colonies. Through the Spanish encomienda system and the Portuguese donatario system, European countries were able to exploit the native population in order to generate revenue. Large-scale farming of cash crops such as dye-wood and sugar subjugated Native Americans as well as African slaves (obtained through the triangle trade system) in order to provide an adequate amount of crop exports at a low cost. According to [Document 7], the colonizers even lay claim to the land, eventually taking it from the Natives. The most striking example of European exploitation of New World resources is the silver mines at Potosi. By using the nearly inexhaustible labor force provided through the Incan mita system, the Spaniards effectively created a silver factory that churned out almost 5 million kilograms of silver between 1591 and 1610. This in turn led to the rise in power of the Spanish empire by increasing its purchasing power and supply of wealth. The economic impact, however, was not