During the exploration of the New World, it sparked the beginning of a worldwide exchange, better known as the Columbian Exchange, which consisted of the transfer of goods between the Eastern (like Europe) and Western (America) hemispheres. This exchange was so significant during the time because it made the lives of those around much easier. For instance, by exchanging nutritious crops (mainly vegetables, but also crops like sugar) to Europe and Africa, it helped grow the existing population immensely over the next few hundred years. Additionally, this influx of high yield crops allowed people to enrich their diets, eliminating the fear of starvation, allowing them to focus more on what mattered. Furthermore, animals such as horses during the time were sent to the Americas, namely the great plains, allowing both Native tribes and colonies better transportation and hunting means, as well as an advance in warfare by horseback. Although this exchange sent various goods throughout the world, it didn’t come without its setbacks, mainly the spread of dangerous diseases. In the Easter hemisphere, Europeans brought home Syphilis from America, which hurt and killed off a portion of the European and Asian population. Far worse however were the diseases brought over to the Western hemisphere, mainly Smallpox from the Europeans, which possibly “reduced the [Native] populations by as much as 90 percent” (25). Although several Natives did survive this disease, it left them vulnerable to nearby tribes, causing many indigenous groups to die off. All in all, the Columbian Exchanged tied both hemispheres of the world together, while also causing a disastrous spread of dangerous diseases like Smallpox and Syphilis throughout the human population.
Patronage is a series of methods where citizens, groups, and any related persons employ accomplished writers and artists to create art or literature that portrayed an image to their liking. The purpose of such creations were to brag of one’s personal power and the amount of wealth one owned in the early Renaissance Italy; or specifically, those who were a part of influential urban groups. Art, as a result of patronage and differing requests of how it was to be portrayed, eventually had less of a spiritualistic ideal and showed human ideals. This was brought up due to patrons’ requests for art to be created in the image of himself and his family. Due to such, part of the Renaissance’s influence was affected by the creation of different art styles created from patronage, which had influenced most of the works created in the future such as perspective.
The Columbian Exchange was started through the introduction of different animals and plants as well as new diseases between the interaction between Native Americans and sailing Europeans. Certain types of plants, like rice, bananas, wheat, grapes, olives, and dandelions were carried across from different countries exploring the New World. Animals, such as horses, cattle, sheep, dogs, pigs, chickens, and goats were also brought across from Europe, which were foreign from the simple wild turkeys and game that the Native Americans had only possessed as food in the form of animals. Most importantly, other than the plants and animals that were introduced to the Native Americans, were the devastating diseases that were carried from the Europeans in the form of an epidemic. This lead to colonization, trade, and disease unifying the New World after Columbus had found it.
The Mexica Empire was discovered by Hernando Cortes, and it was under the rule of Montezuma II at the capital of the city Tenochtitlan. It was larger than any currently existing European city in the era and was an advanced society with knowledge of mathematics, astrology, and engineering, as well as possessing a social system and historically tied traditions. After Cortes arrived, Mexica leaders presented him with gifts and brought him back to their empire in goodwill. However, Cortes struck deals with the indigenous people who were conquered by Montezuma and marched on Tenochtitlan with hundreds of his men and around six thousand indigenous fighters. However, Montezuma did not attack them, and his hesitation caused his captivity. His influence on his people was undermined and he was killed once Spanish soldiers killed Mexica warriors dancing at a festival, leading to an uprising. The Spanish forces fled the city and laid attack onto the capital with around a thousand Spanish and seventy-five thousand Native troops. The use of advanced technology and smallpox led the way for Spanish victory, and Cortes and other conquistadors began to conquer Mexico, also conquering many other Mexican kingdoms.
