The interaction between the Europeans and the Native Americans resulted in an array of positive and negative consequences. The exchange of ideas and goods was beneficial to both sides, but the exhange of disease was massively devastating for the Native Americans. The technology that was shared would change the face of the world (think of the potato) but the literal face of the land inhabited by the Native Americans would be forever altered.

Discuss your thoughts on the interaction between these two groups of people. There are positive and negative aspects that can be analyzed, but also how you feel about what occurred. Even today, the Native Americans are positioned on reservations that account for some of the poorest areas in the country. Yet, the European introduction of the horse was very important to their hunting abilities. The potato and other vitamin enriched food helped Europeans survive and prosper and even jolted the world population like no other event in modern times. But each positive seems to have a negative.

Share your thoughts, ideas, and general feelings about this time period. Consult the text for direct examples and look at the specifics of the Columbian Exchange. But if you choose to quote anything, please list the page number after the quote in parentheses. Do not copy anything directly from the text without quoting it. You need to write your understanding of the information in your own words