Devastation of New World Ecosystems During the Age of...

The New World, in the minds and descriptions of European explorers and settlers during the sixteenth century, was comparable to a paradise on earth. The landscape was so vast and indescribably beautiful that even Columbus had trouble articulating its splendor. However, lacking a consciousness of conservation, Europeans felt little remorse in exploiting the land and subjugating its people. From the beginning Europeans set out to transform as much of the New World into the Old World as possible. As a result, the New World, over the course of two centuries, was overtaken by foreign plant and animal species, leveled by deforestation, and devastated by disease. This imposition of Old World values significantly impacted the ecology of the New†¦show more content†¦All of these crops, along with many other European food plants, were successfully cultivated in the New World. European food plants grew so well that Crosby states, All the seeds they had sown sprouted in three days and w ere ready to be eaten by the twenty-fifth day (67). Wheat, which was the primary dietary staple of Europeans, prospered especially well in the New World. Europeans cultivated and processed wheat in practically every New World settlement and within decades of the discovery of the New World, wheat not only prospered in North America, but was also successfully harvested in New Granada, Central America, and even as far south as Chile (Crosby 71). The ecological impact of European food plants on the New World is clouded by agricultural success. There is no doubt that from an agricultural standpoint European food plants were ecologically successful. This was primarily due to the fact that the plants grew so well in New World climates and soils. However, commonly ignored are the countless numbers of cultures, lifestyles, and habitats that were significantly altered to make way for the migration of European food plants. As European food plants continued to prosper, hundreds of acres of wooded areas surrounding European settlements were burned or leveled to provide adequate space for cultivation. As a result, many indigenous plant and animal species were forced from their natural habitats and niches that were crucial to theirShow MoreRelatedThe Age Of Exploration : John Winthrop1546 Words   |  7 Pages-9 26 May 2016 The Age of Exploration John Winthrop, first governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony: â€Å"Touching these savages, there is a thing I cannot omit to remark to you, it is that it appears visibly that God wishes that they yield their place to new peoples.† (Crosby, Alfred W.) The Age of Exploration, (and Exploitation) brought an era of racism, nationalism, and ideals of superiority to the New World. 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