Question

According to Acosta, a Spaniard, which of the following was true of the Columbian Exchange?

A. It was an unequal one because Europe benefited more than the Americas from it.
B. It was an equal exchange because both Europe and the Americas benefited from it.
C. It was an unequal one because the Americas benefited more than Europe from it.
D. It was a poor exchange because neither the Americas nor Europe benefited.

Answer 1

The Columbian Exchange was unequal, with Europe benefiting more than the Americas, largely due to the devastating impact of European diseases on the Indigenous populations. (option a)

Step-by-step explanation:

According to Acosta, a Spanish Jesuit priest and naturalist, the Columbian Exchange was considered an unequal process, with Europe benefiting more than the Americas. The exchange involved the transfer of goods, animals, plants, and diseases between the Old World and the New World after Christopher Columbus's voyages. Acosta observed that European diseases devastated indigenous populations in the Americas, leading to a significant demographic collapse. Meanwhile, Europe gained valuable resources, such as gold, and silver, and new crops like potatoes and tomatoes, resulting in a substantial economic and agricultural advantage.

Acosta's perspective reflects a critical examination of the consequences of the Columbian Exchange, emphasizing the disproportionate impact on the Americas in terms of population loss and the exploitation of resources by European powers.

Acosta's viewpoint, as reflected in option A, underscores the notion that the Columbian Exchange was perceived as unequal, with Europe deriving more significant benefits at the expense of the Americas. This interpretation acknowledges the complex and multifaceted outcomes of this historical process.