Pangea was a supercontinent that existed during the Mesozoic and Paleozoic eras. It began to divide into two distinct continents around 175 million years ago. This large-scale global change would forever alter the biology and geography of the world. The division of Pangea would also become the reason behind many global phenomena. Millions and millions of years ago, when continental drift split Pangea, the future of human societies was changed forever. This massive drift played an important role in the division of the Old World and the New World. North and South America were separated from Eurasia and Africa, with the Atlantic Ocean now located between the two land masses. This large-scale separation resulted in the development of two different types of societies, in distinct regions of the world. Although it may seem trivial, these were more than two different societies, the different land masses developed in different ways and therefore had different biological resources that people could use. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayIn 1492, the Columbian Exchange somehow “reestablished” the connection between the two worlds. It involved the transfer of people, goods and disease across the Atlantic Ocean. Some might consider it the most important event in modern world history. This allowed Europeans to enter the global trading system, previously dominated by China with its silks and India with its spices. This gave many European countries considerable wealth and the ability to become a dominant trading system. Although the Columbian Exchange had many benefits, it also caused many deaths in addition to these positive aspects. Millions of people died during this time. It is estimated that ninety percent of early Americans died, and on some Caribbean islands the Native American population disappeared completely. It was one of the largest exchanges of goods, people and disease across the Atlantic Ocean. The Columbian Exchange widely affected virtually every society on the planet in a very profound way by transferring devastating diseases, as well as circulating a wide variety of new crops and livestock. During the Columbian Exchange, many diseases came and traveled between the two. , from the Old World to the New World. The Native American peoples of the New World were greatly affected by these diseases because, firstly, they had no immunity to them and, secondly, they did not know what they were until it was too late. Native American populations were greatly reduced, very quickly. Some historians estimate that approximately twenty-five to fifty percent of the population of Native American tribes sadly disappeared due to disease. Some of the diseases transmitted between the two different societies were smallpox, mumps, measles, polio, hepatitis, influenza, syphilis and encephalitis. Smallpox, mumps, measles, and influenza were all imported from the Old World to the New World. This means that they wiped out most of the Native Americans due to their weak immune systems and the fact that they had no idea what these diseases were. Medicine was not advanced, so there were not many cures for Native Americans. Smallpox was a disease that mainly affected children and wiped out very quicklythe Native Americans. Mumps affects the salivary and parotid glands and is very painful for anyone who has contracted the disease. Measles was a disease for which there was no treatment. People who have contracted it have experienced flu-like symptoms. The flu, also known as the flu, affects the nose, throat and lungs. Although the group of people who suffered the most from this “disease exchange” were Native Americans, Europeans also contracted some New World diseases. . Polio, hepatitis, encephalitis, and syphilis all spread from the New World to the Old World. Polio was present in Europe in pre-Columbian times, but after the "beginning" of the exchange, polio slowly became an increasingly important problem for Europeans. Hepatitis affects the liver and can be caused by prescribed medications or misuse of medications. Native Americans had never been exposed to this disease before. Encephalitis is a bacterial disease resulting from a problem with the immune system. It can cause hallucinations, but only some cases are fatal. Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease transmitted primarily by European sailors. Some European sailors came to rape Native American women. This practice also led to a new breed in the Americas. Along with diseases, the Colombian Stock Exchange also favored the transfer of large quantities of crops. This exchange of goods affected both the Old World and the New World. Before this large-scale transfer of goods, Old World crops such as wheat, barley, rice, and turnips were unknown in the New World. The Native Americans had no idea what they were or what to do with them. Some crops that had never crossed the Atlantic Ocean westward before were corn, white potatoes, sweet potatoes, and cassava. Although many crops were destined for England, they were also destined for other countries. For example, corn was imported to China from the Americas and white potatoes to Ireland. After potatoes were introduced to Ireland, they became a staple crop for that region. When Europeans settled the East Coast of the United States, they introduced and began growing wheat and apples. This transfer of goods was vital to the development of the New World because it allowed the development of new and different economies. These new economies flourished after the Europeans introduced these products. Although all products of the Columbian Exchange were important, some people would consider sugar to be one of the most vital products of the colonial era. To put things in perspective, sugar had the same economic importance in colonial times as oil does today. Many countries fought to control sugar production in the Americas. Sugar was first introduced to Hispaniola by Columbus in 1493, where it flourished. Sugarcane cultivation excelled in tropical regions, so it was mainly grown in the Caribbean islands. Although sugar production actually boosted colonial economies, it also fostered the need for slave labor. The Atlantic slave trade began during the colonial era, due to the need for hardworking and "durable" people to work on the sugar plantations. Since sugar is a highly sought after product, the demand has increased significantly. Europeans began kidnapping and transferring Africans to the Americas. Africans were linked to each otherothers, marketed, marked and treated as goods. Many kidnapped people died along the Middle Passage, which was the journey the now-slaves took across the Atlantic Ocean. The ships went from West Africa to the Antilles. Africans were useful as slaves because they were immune to most diseases and were accustomed to hard labor. When they went to America, European settlers began to develop plantations, which were large properties, to grow sugar cane. At first, plantation owners used the Native Americans as slaves, but they died too quickly for Europeans to consider them useful. A Spanish priest named Bartolomé de Las Casas suggested replacing the Native Americans with Africans, and the Portuguese took this idea and ran with it. In the mid-1500s, the Portuguese and Spanish transported thousands of people to the Americas and the Caribbean. Another very important crop for Europeans was tobacco. Tobacco was a cash crop for Europeans, meaning it was grown for sale rather than for personal consumption. Unlike some cultures mentioned previously, Europeans did not import tobacco. Before Europeans arrived in America, Native Americans had used and cultivated tobacco for medicinal and ceremonial purposes. They believed that tobacco strengthened wisdom and improved concentration. Before 1492, Europeans had no idea that tobacco existed, which is why it was initially stigmatized. Early Spanish explorers used Native Americans' tobacco use as a reason to view them as savages and view themselves as superior peoples. Although there was initially a negative connotation, over time Europeans became accustomed to tobacco use and claimed that it had medical properties, just as Native Americans believed. Tobacco became the first truly global product. Many countries, including Europe, France, Spain and Portugal, cultivated it in order to participate in the global market. Along with tobacco, Native Americans introduced Europeans to chocolate. In addition to diseases and crops, the Columbian Exchange also facilitated the transfer of many animals across the Atlantic Ocean, including horses, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and more. Before Europeans brought new animals to the natives, they had domesticated only a few animals, including llamas, alpacas, dogs, turkeys and guinea pigs. Christopher Columbus brought pigs, cows, chickens and horses to the Caribbean islands. Native Americans used livestock for transportation, transportation, hides, tallow, and meat. The practice of hunting and gathering has transformed into a very mobile practice thanks to these animals. Larger animals brought by Europeans significantly changed the nature of work in the Americas. They allowed the animals to do the work, rather than the Native Americans. When Native Americans could use oxen to plow, it made things like farming and transportation easier and more efficient. Another animal that made a big difference in Native American society was the pig. They completely overhauled the food supply. Pigs were so prevalent in Native American and colonial societies because they can reproduce quickly and easily and do not have a specific diet. Large tracts of land for grazing and agriculture allowed livestock to thrive in the Americas. Another animal that has.