In the Wake of Columbus The Impact of the New World on Europe, 1492-1650
Christopher Columbus discovered the Americas more than 500 years ago. This particular exploit of his marked an event that was to radically change the lives of the indigenous people of the Americas and profoundly shape the flow of subsequent history. While such discovery of the world-renowned expedition leader has been significantly discussed in the archives of history, often overlooked is the fact that the encounter between the old (Europe) and new (America) worlds brought radical changes within the European people and societies.
In his book, In the Wake of Columbus The Impact of the New World in Europe, 1492-1650, author Roger Schlesinger (1996) gives the general readers a concise and well-written details about the clash of cultures between the two colonies, and the ways in which the colonization of the New world transformed Europe. Schlesinger contends that contact with America fundamentally altered early modern European societyincluding their subsequent progress in intellectual thought, the introduction of new products and foods, acquisition of new lands, and generally, their world view, which in turn shaped the Europeans rise to global dominance. By citing John Elliotts 1970 work The Old World and the New 1492-1650, Schlesinger (1996) points out that the reason behind the changes in the old world is that Europeans simply were overwhelmed with all of the new information coming from America. Mental shutters came down, and Europeans simply ignored the American challenge to their traditional values and beliefs... (p. xx).
To reinforce his claim, the author divides his book into four chapters, each of which speaks about the influences that American colonization had over the different aspects of the European society. Schlesinger traversed the sixteenth- and seventeenth-century Europe wherein people experienced a dramatic rise in the prices of goods compared to their wages. Many Europeans credit the price revolution to the influx of silver from America. Nonetheless, Schlesinger (1996) argues that the demand of food grew faster than the demand for any manufactured goods due to the constantly increasing population brought about by the new world colonization, which in turn led to inflation and the rise of prices (p. 7-8). He also adds that the influx of American silver has something to do with the evolution of commercialization in the European market, which profoundly changed how Europeans do their businesses.
In the second chapter, the author examines the ongoing rivalries in Europe in the wake of their discovery of the Americas. Schlesinger (19996) believes that the wealthy benefits that can be derived from colonizing America is what further fueled the existing rivalries within the European society, most especially in terms of the fundamental rivalry over acquiring the royal positions in Europe. He reinforces such claim by citing the power of local and regional Spanish loyalties more than any other body within the European nation, which in turn paved way for the materialization of the black legenda perception that entails Spaniards as cruel, fanatical and intolerant, that is said to be influenced by the international rivalry. Schlesinger (1996) also manages to give a background about the international law and other important political events during that period.
The third and final chapter of the book gives emphasis on the European conception toward the Native Americans, arts, and the biological impact of the American colonization over the daily life of the Europeans. The author makes three important arguments within these last two chapters. First, he believes that despite the preconceptions of the Europeans against the Native Americans, they still exerted efforts to understand Native Americans, basing his thoughts on the existing European writings about the American natives. Yet, he also states that Europeans narrowed their vision to such an extent that they found it very difficult to appreciate the distinctive characters of the cultures they had encountered (Schlesinger, 1996, p. 52). Hence, it can be inferred that although European efforts were made to further improve their relationships with the Native Americans during that time, they somehow remained adept to the conceptions that they made about these group of people. Schlesingers (1996) second argument is centered on the idea that American art did not have any significant influence on European art, especially with the development of Baroque and Renaissance arts. He perceives that while American images and objects may have been incorporated within the European arts merely as backgrounds, artworks of the old world generally had its roots from classic antiquity that has been carried on generations after, even by the time that the new world was colonized. Finally, Schlesinger (1996) denotes that the discovery of the new world has also profoundly changed the European way of living. That is across the two continents, increased diversity and adaptation of food, animals, plants and diseases eventually take place. Exchange of food, cuisines, and full range of foods has been mentioned, which the author believes to have contributed to European diet change. Likewise, plants began to appear on both continents, tobacco being the American plant that had the deepest impact in the European society. The author keeps his discussion about American animals and diseases to a minimum as the two aspects have relatively little impact on the European society (Schlesinger, 1996).
Generally, Roger Schlesingers In the Wake of Columbus contains historiographical themes about Europe that can be very helpful for American-European relations enthusiasts, undergraduates, and general readers. While many written accounts about European history are focused on the changes brought about by the Europeans within the American society, Schlesinger managed to come up with a book that is especially centered on a subject that is often overlooked within the annals of historythe impact of Americas in the European society. It is therefore a useful reading material for acquiring knowledge about an important history fact that is often taken for granted.
Christopher Columbus discovered the Americas more than 500 years ago. This particular exploit of his marked an event that was to radically change the lives of the indigenous people of the Americas and profoundly shape the flow of subsequent history. While such discovery of the world-renowned expedition leader has been significantly discussed in the archives of history, often overlooked is the fact that the encounter between the old (Europe) and new (America) worlds brought radical changes within the European people and societies.
In his book, In the Wake of Columbus The Impact of the New World in Europe, 1492-1650, author Roger Schlesinger (1996) gives the general readers a concise and well-written details about the clash of cultures between the two colonies, and the ways in which the colonization of the New world transformed Europe. Schlesinger contends that contact with America fundamentally altered early modern European societyincluding their subsequent progress in intellectual thought, the introduction of new products and foods, acquisition of new lands, and generally, their world view, which in turn shaped the Europeans rise to global dominance. By citing John Elliotts 1970 work The Old World and the New 1492-1650, Schlesinger (1996) points out that the reason behind the changes in the old world is that Europeans simply were overwhelmed with all of the new information coming from America. Mental shutters came down, and Europeans simply ignored the American challenge to their traditional values and beliefs... (p. xx).
To reinforce his claim, the author divides his book into four chapters, each of which speaks about the influences that American colonization had over the different aspects of the European society. Schlesinger traversed the sixteenth- and seventeenth-century Europe wherein people experienced a dramatic rise in the prices of goods compared to their wages. Many Europeans credit the price revolution to the influx of silver from America. Nonetheless, Schlesinger (1996) argues that the demand of food grew faster than the demand for any manufactured goods due to the constantly increasing population brought about by the new world colonization, which in turn led to inflation and the rise of prices (p. 7-8). He also adds that the influx of American silver has something to do with the evolution of commercialization in the European market, which profoundly changed how Europeans do their businesses.
In the second chapter, the author examines the ongoing rivalries in Europe in the wake of their discovery of the Americas. Schlesinger (19996) believes that the wealthy benefits that can be derived from colonizing America is what further fueled the existing rivalries within the European society, most especially in terms of the fundamental rivalry over acquiring the royal positions in Europe. He reinforces such claim by citing the power of local and regional Spanish loyalties more than any other body within the European nation, which in turn paved way for the materialization of the black legenda perception that entails Spaniards as cruel, fanatical and intolerant, that is said to be influenced by the international rivalry. Schlesinger (1996) also manages to give a background about the international law and other important political events during that period.
The third and final chapter of the book gives emphasis on the European conception toward the Native Americans, arts, and the biological impact of the American colonization over the daily life of the Europeans. The author makes three important arguments within these last two chapters. First, he believes that despite the preconceptions of the Europeans against the Native Americans, they still exerted efforts to understand Native Americans, basing his thoughts on the existing European writings about the American natives. Yet, he also states that Europeans narrowed their vision to such an extent that they found it very difficult to appreciate the distinctive characters of the cultures they had encountered (Schlesinger, 1996, p. 52). Hence, it can be inferred that although European efforts were made to further improve their relationships with the Native Americans during that time, they somehow remained adept to the conceptions that they made about these group of people. Schlesingers (1996) second argument is centered on the idea that American art did not have any significant influence on European art, especially with the development of Baroque and Renaissance arts. He perceives that while American images and objects may have been incorporated within the European arts merely as backgrounds, artworks of the old world generally had its roots from classic antiquity that has been carried on generations after, even by the time that the new world was colonized. Finally, Schlesinger (1996) denotes that the discovery of the new world has also profoundly changed the European way of living. That is across the two continents, increased diversity and adaptation of food, animals, plants and diseases eventually take place. Exchange of food, cuisines, and full range of foods has been mentioned, which the author believes to have contributed to European diet change. Likewise, plants began to appear on both continents, tobacco being the American plant that had the deepest impact in the European society. The author keeps his discussion about American animals and diseases to a minimum as the two aspects have relatively little impact on the European society (Schlesinger, 1996).
Generally, Roger Schlesingers In the Wake of Columbus contains historiographical themes about Europe that can be very helpful for American-European relations enthusiasts, undergraduates, and general readers. While many written accounts about European history are focused on the changes brought about by the Europeans within the American society, Schlesinger managed to come up with a book that is especially centered on a subject that is often overlooked within the annals of historythe impact of Americas in the European society. It is therefore a useful reading material for acquiring knowledge about an important history fact that is often taken for granted.
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