A Changing World

A changing world

The finding of America is one of the significant events that had a massive and relatively transformative impact on the change that has been seen the humankind in the last two or centuries now. Its discovery had a significant effect on industrial facilitation that saw the growth of economic power that empowered the New World industry by providing ready markets for most products (Forman-Barzilai, 2008). The newly discovered world had an impact on trade affected cultures, societies, innovations and globalization by promoting exchange and uniting the world.

Three major aspects tend to demonstrate the old and New World exchanges. The elements include the discovery of new raw materials such as tobacco, cotton, corn which led to the creation of more market demand and shifting the pattern of trade. The development created an increase in demand and supply with both their level being determined by the needs of societies across the world (Forman-Barzilai, 2008). It resulted in the second aspect which is global trans-Atlantic slave trade that was used to create free labor for owners to increase the means of production and creating a massive humanitarian disaster.

Lastly, there was the aspect the destruction of native populations throughout the Americas, representing liquidation beyond reasonable levels that were justified by a newfound sense of European superiority (Muthu, 2008). For example, the Native Americans population faced decimations and displacement in a struggle that saw the majority of the people destroyed and forced to abandon their settlements in the struggle for power and resources (Forman-Barzilai, 2008).

The events by Old and New World changes affected many groups, but its impact had special effects on five main groups. They include the Native Americans particularly of the South, North, and Central America which were affected by incidental and organized genocides (Forman-Barzilai, 2008). Africans, mostly from West Africa were hugely affected in multiple ways. For example, their old empires were dismantled and the creation of systems that were to enable people to be traded as goods and enslave to supply free labor in the New World. Major Trade Powers were also affected.

The events also affected the traders and merchants who were highly involved in the global market economy, such as Arab traders, Dutch and English multinationals that capitalized on the discovery of the new world (Grolle, 2013). The others to be affected were the pioneers who colonized the New World due to their boldness to begin a modern society as they contended with political, social, and economic challenges related to the change. Finally, a group of Europeans and British who continued to operate in the Old World, society and politics changed their way of existence in normal and outstanding ways via transformations in leadership sectors (Grolle, 2013).

The nature of the events mainly the creation of new global trade routes affected the occupations and lifestyle of the average working American in the colonies in several ways. There was an introduction of new patterns and products for eating and other shifts of activities in their daily life. These patterns mostly depended on the local resources that were available and fluctuations in the markets. Introductions of new cultural behaviors and beliefs which lead to culture shock (Forman-Barzilai, 2008). For example, the behaviors and cultures varied among the plantations inhabited by slaves. In some plantations, slaves would work in the fields which saw the introduction of new leadership and supervision skills. It involved subjecting the slaves to repeated beatings and exploitation while working under unfavorable weather conditions such as excessive cold or heat. Those who worked indoors required different skills to handle (Grolle, 2013).

The changes affected the groups in different ways. For example, it was witnessed among the Native Americans a critical change in lifestyles, culture, and behavior. Since most of them had low immune systems, exposure to deadly diseases wiped out their population at a fast rate (Forman-Barzilai, 2008). Most of them were then forced out of their homes relocating to foreign lands. As a result of this, most average Americans formed groups that helped the shifting and balancing of power.

The new global trade saw changes in the role and status of an average American woman in certain levels and colonial societies. Introduction of trade and industrialization were favorable to women and empowered them (Muthu, 2008). The new world initiated the changes in roles and status such as the status of land occupation. The changes allowed women to be landowners, with landowners which ascribed them to a different status from the others since those who owned the land benefited directly from the free labor of slaves (Muthu, 2008).

The discussion above outlines how the discovery of the New World leads to shifting that balanced power throughout the world. The new world impacted on the nature of the world through industrialization increasing the economic power and enabling better access to new natural resources. The effects of the new world were felt through changes in culture, trade innovations, lifestyles and the status of women in society. More importantly, the discovery ushered in a new model of capitalist enterprises and the availability of new materials that set the stage for technological growth, and scientific innovation and development.

References

Forman-Barzilai, F. (2008). Adam Smith as a globalization theorist, Critical review. Vol. 14, iss. 4, pp. 391-419.