In 1–2 sentences, use one of the primary sources discussed in this lesson to create an argument about the significance of the Columbian Exchange and the transatlantic slave system to European expansion.(
The primary source "A Letter from Christopher Columbus to Luis de Sant Angel Announcing His Discovery" shows that the Columbian Exchange and the transatlantic slave system were crucial factors that fueled European expansion by bringing new resources and labor to Europe, leading to economic growth and the establishment of colonies.
One of the primary sources discussed in this lesson, such as Kuper's book "The Pagan Kingdoms," argues that the Columbian Exchange and the transatlantic slave system were instrumental in European expansion as they fueled the demand for labor, encouraged the development of trading networks, and resulted in the spread of new crops, diseases, and ideas.
To understand the significance of the Columbian Exchange and the transatlantic slave system to European expansion, examine primary sources like Christopher Columbus's letter to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain, which describes the abundance of resources in the Americas and the potential for profit through the exploitation of Indigenous labor.
