Columbus Blog #8

Although Christopher Columbus is both a hero and villain, he is a hero to a greater extent. The arguably "accident" landing in the New World, can potentially be called one of the most important discoveries. Ever. This finding meant the start of a new era in world of politics, economics, and social relations. He is a hero because he helped form the basis for all action in the New World, such as the formation of the colonies which eventually turned into one of the most powerful nations in the world, provided an extreme exchange of products and goods otherwise unknown to each territory. Corn, tomatoes, potatoes, vanilla, rubber, tobacco, and chocolate were all indigenous to the New World and previously unknown to the Old World, while citrus plants, bananas, apples, mangoes, onions, wheat, rice, and coffee were all only known to the Old World. All these products were exchanged permanently influencing the world; Switzerland and their chocolate, Italy and tomatoes, France and cigarettes, Florida and oranges, Hawaii and pineapples, Columbia and coffee, and America and dandelions. Columbus's landing in the Americas can be considered the turning point in world history, as after this many new, different, and otherwise nonexistent events occurred such as colonization, strengthening of countries, wars, and much more. Also, Columbus was one of the first to understand, comprehend, and accept that the world was round, not flat, like many scientists of the time thought. However, this was purely by luck and from this Columbus negatively impacted the natives lives by spreading disease and being the sole reason that they lost their land and home as well as people across the globe, including Africans, who after this encounter were roped into the slave trade for generations. Even though there are negatives, like every situation, the positives outweigh them and, thanks in part to the hero Christopher Columbus, these are the reasons I can call America my home today.