Week 7: Slides (8-9)

Question 1

What was one consequence of Eurasians living in close quarters with domesticated animals?

A. Development of immunity to certain diseases

B. Increased lifespan due to better diets

C. Elimination of diseases in Eurasia

D. Greater mobility for Eurasian societies

Answer 1

A

Explanation: Close contact with animals led to disease transmission, and over time, Eurasians developed immunity to these diseases

Question 2

True/False
True or False: High population density in Eurasian societies contributed to the spread of diseases.

Answer 2

True

Explanation: High population density facilitated the spread of diseases within Eurasian communities, which contributed to their eventual immunity.

Question 3

Fill-in-the-Blank
The spread of diseases in densely populated Eurasian societies led to the development of __________ immunity over generations.

Answer 3

Partial or total

Explanation: Repeated exposure to diseases allowed some Eurasian populations to build immunity, which would later impact other regions.

Question 4

How did the Eurasian disease immunity impact Indigenous populations during the Columbian Exchange?

Answer 4

Indigenous populations in the Americas lacked immunity to Eurasian diseases, leading to devastating outbreaks and significant population loss upon contact with Europeans.

Question 5

Define “Columbian Exchange” in the context of global history.

Answer 5

The Columbian Exchange refers to the widespread transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, and diseases between the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia following Columbus’s voyages in 1492, leading to dramatic ecological and social changes.

Question 6

Yes/No
Did the Columbian Exchange introduce diseases to previously isolated populations in the Americas?

Answer 6

Yes

Explanation: The exchange brought Eurasian diseases, such as smallpox, to the Americas, where Indigenous populations had no immunity, leading to catastrophic outbreaks.

Question 7

Which of the following best describes the impact of the Columbian Exchange on isolated regions?

A. New crops and animals improved health for all populations

B. Diseases introduced led to catastrophic effects on Indigenous populations

C. There was no significant impact on isolated regions

D. Trade routes were unaffected

Answer 7

B. Diseases introduced led to catastrophic effects on Indigenous populations

Explanation: The introduction of Eurasian diseases to isolated populations in the Americas resulted in high mortality rates due to lack of immunity.

Question 8

Fill-in-the-Blank

The Columbian Exchange began with Columbus’s arrival in the __________ in 1492, initiating a period of intense species transmission.

Answer 8

“New World” (Americas)

Explanation: Columbus’s arrival marked the beginning of widespread exchanges of species, including crops, animals, and diseases.

Question 9

Match the following terms with their descriptions:

A. Columbian Exchange
B. Ecological Imperialism
C. Disease Immunity

1. The spread of species and diseases between the Old and
   New Worlds after 1492.
2. The concept that European ecological advantages contributed to their global dominance.
3. Immunity developed by Eurasian societies due to repeated exposure to diseases.

Answer 9

A-1
B-2
C-3

Question 10

Why did diseases spread so rapidly among Indigenous populations in the Americas during the Columbian Exchange?

Answer 10

Indigenous populations had no prior exposure to Eurasian diseases, such as smallpox and measles, and therefore lacked immunity, resulting in rapid and widespread outbreaks that decimated communities.

Question 11

Define “Ecological Imperialism” in the context of European expansion.

Answer 11

Ecological Imperialism is the theory that European settlers’ success in colonizing foreign lands was largely due to the introduction of non-native plants, animals, and diseases, which often disrupted local ecosystems and benefited European survival and dominance.

This concept was popularized by Alfred Crosby, who argued that European organisms unintentionally facilitated the colonization process.

Question 12

Define “Immunity” in the context of the Eurasian disease advantage.

Answer 12

Immunity refers to the resistance or defense developed by individuals or populations against specific diseases. In Eurasian societies, immunity developed over generations due to repeated exposure to diseases, particularly those originating from close contact with domesticated animals.

This immunity provided an advantage, as they could survive diseases that devastated populations without prior exposure.