Historical Analysis: Europe in 1492 and the Colonization of America

This essay examines the profound historical impact of the year 1492, marking the beginning of European colonization of America. It explores the consequences of this pivotal year on Europe, America, and Africa, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of colonization. The paper discusses how the arrival of Europeans, led by Christopher Columbus, initiated exploration and trade, leading to both economic prosperity and the introduction of diseases, exploitation, and the transatlantic slave trade. The essay analyzes the cultural and religious arrogance of Europeans, the destruction of native cultures, and the emergence of stable democracies. It also considers the introduction of new technologies, plants, and animals, along with the forced loss of native values and mistreatment. The essay references key historical sources to support its analysis of this transformative period.

Running head: EUROPE AND 1492
EUROPE AND 1492
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1EUROPE AND 1492
Europe has witnessed dramatic encounters from 1492 to 1600. It is the same for America
as well. The year 1492 is a year that is a year of high historical value (Kirby, 2014). The year is
marked as the beginning of the European colonization of America. The paper aims to discuss the
importance of the year 1492 and the way it impacted the people living in Europe, America and
Africa.
The European first reached America in the year 1492 after the invasion was done by a
European in the eleventh century. In 1492, a Spanish expedition who was headed by Christopher
Columbus successfully reached America. It was after then, the exploration and colonization
began expanding rapidly. Through the Caribbean region, including parts of North and South
America eventually western hemisphere as well.
Although the colonization began with the approach of being a benefit to the other
countries, the scene was different later on. The flow of benefit appeared one-sided only, where it
was only Europe benefitting from the American (Zinn, 2015). The exploration and colonization
of America has modified and transformed the entire world that in the end added 31 new nation-
states to the global community. In one hand, the religious and cultural arrogance led the
Europeans to deny everything valued by the Americans and destroy it. Also, on the other hand,
many people, the settlers who were sitting on the powerful positions were social and political
visionaries. They were able to see the possibilities of the future and found extraordinary
opportunities in the scene. The aim of them was to achieve freedom, justice and equality. Due to
the colonization to America, some of the most stable and stern democracies are found existing in
the world that was the result of the transformative process. A severe loss of population loss and
cultural loss of the native land. African were victimized to a great extent leading to the trend of
slavery (Spohn, 2016).

2EUROPE AND 1492
The colonization and exploration of Europe had both advantages and disadvantages. The
advantages would include better transportation and trade route. It has also improved cartography,
economic prosperity. The new land provided several opportunities to know a geographical
location (Sokolow, 2016). The trade route provided people to connect with each other and make
economic development. However, the disadvantages of the colonization would involve, the
introduction of diseases. There was the introduction of various diseases. The voyage was very
highly dangerous and risky. Due to several reasons in the unsafe journey, several people died
along the way. The process destroyed the civilization of the native people. It forced cultural and
religious beliefs on the native people. The exploitation of the new land led to the beginning of
the slave trend as well which have long term impacts, observed even today.
The European brought ideas, plants, animals, technologies that were new to the native
people. People learned the new things however were forced to lose the native values and forced
to be exploited, mistreated by the Europeans.

3EUROPE AND 1492
References:
Kirby, D. (2014). Northern Europe in the early modern period: the Baltic world 1492-1772.
Routledge.
Sokolow, J. A. (2016). The Great Encounter: Native Peoples and European Settlers in the
Americas, 1492-1800: Native Peoples and European Settlers in the Americas, 1492-
1800. Routledge.
Spohn, W. (2016). Entangled identities: nations and Europe. Routledge.
Zinn, H. (2015). A people's history of the United States: 1492-present. Routledge.