Tran1

Amy Tran

Mrs. Thomas

World History, Period 3

November 30, 2011

Francisco Pizarro and the Colombian Exchange

The Columbian Exchange refers to the time in history where cultures were traded from

Europe to the New World. There were many countries that had significant impact on the

Americas but the most significant was the country of Spain. Francisco Pizarro, the conquistador

that conquered the Incas, explored Central and South America bringing animals and advanced

weaponry. Francisco Pizarro was a positive influence on the development of the Americas. "In

1523, Pizarro embarked on a voyage down the coast of South America, in search of gold."1

Although the Incas greatly outnumbered the Spanish, the Spanish were able to conquer the Incas

because their advancement of weapons and strategy. The Spanish made swords that were flexible

yet tough enough to slice with great precision and although their guns are crude compared to

modern day guns, they made large noises and produced high quantities of smoke which

frightened the Incas. With this battle between the Spanish and Incas, the cultures were traded and

brought back to Europe and from Europe to the Americas. In fact, diseases were transmitted

from Europe to America including small pox. Pizarro knew about the deadliness of small pox to

those who did not have the immunity or means to treat it. He produced small pox blankets and

gave them to the Incas. Not surprisingly, there was a massive wipeout of the Incas lowering their

numbers versus the Spanish. In return, the Incas showed Pizarro how to plant potatoes and how

to eat them. Being so amazed by the vegetable, he brought it back to Europe and almost instantly

1
Bailey, Ellen. "FRANCISCO PIZARRO." Francisco Pizarro (January 2009): 1-2. Book Collection Nonfiction:
High School Edition, EBSCOhost (accessed November 29, 2011)
 Tran2

it became a staple for some countries including Ireland. Without the cultural trade between the

Americas and Europe, the global society would not have been as advanced as it is today.

Although some methods of Spain are considered crude and unnecessary, they were the first steps

to the development of the world today.

 Tran3

The Age of Exploration:

Spain and the Columbian Exchange

Amy Tran
World History, Cultures and Geography A
Mrs. Thomas
November 30, 2011