- Do you think the type of nationalism that promoted the colonization of the Americas was a positive or negative force? Explain
- How did nationalism shape the way Europeans managed their colonies? (Economically, politically, socially)
Respuestas
The arrival of Christopher Columbus in America is considered one of the most important events in the history of the world that brought both positive and negative consequences.
The Spaniards sought to evangelize and civilize the Indians in a positive sense and also built infrastructure including towns, cities, roads, convents and churches.
The other Europeans (Dutch, French and English) had a negative impact on society as they dedicated themselves to trade with the Indians and also to barter European objects for animal skins, which caused one of the first ecological catastrophes in the modern world.
The Spanish Monarchy was concerned to recreate the social conditions, production system and working conditions with almost the same political, ideological and religious conditions of Spain but incorporating the indigenous as forced labor.
The spread of diseases from one continent to another brought negative consequences and produced a decrease in the population.
The main wealth generated by the Spanish territories and Portuguese colonies in America was the extraction of gold and silver.
Another positive consequence was the worldwide distribution of food and other products that had been developed by American cultures.