Latin America was a relatively new region to the Western European explorers. Between 1492 and 1914, the Latin American colonies boomed into economic success due to the resources that were found in these areas
Change Over Time Essay
Latin America was a relatively new region to the Western European explorers. Christopher Columbus, a European explorer, arrived in the West Indies in what he thought was Asia in 1492. He probably would never have expected that this region would be a great source of resources that would be traded for different goods across the Atlantic. Between 1492 and 1914, the Latin American colonies boomed into economic success due to the resources that were found in these areas. They were sent to places such as Europe and the African colonies owned by some European nations in exchange for other goods. The methods of trade and the products traded varied over time, especially after the industrialization of most of the colonies in Latin America.
Trade began in the days of Columbus. He landed on the island that we now know as Hispaniola. He sent letters back to the monarchy in Spain describing the land by saying it that was beautiful and rich in resources. This opened a window of opportunity for the Spanish to claim these areas in Latin America. They would do so and colonize these Latin American lands. Although Christopher Columbus “discovered” this “New World”, there were already people living there. Because of the interaction between the natives and the Europeans, many of the natives became ill with diseases from Europe, which weakened them making it easier for them to be conquered and enslaved by the Spanish. The natives were forced to harvest crops like sugar and tobacco which would then be exported to Europe. This would continue for many more years after 1492 until a new form of trading came about.
