Examkin

Question

Difficulty: HardThe Columbian Exchange

Source: Description of the Mezquital Valley in central Mexico by a Spanish colonial administrator, late sixteenth century.

'In the early years of the conquest, this valley was densely populated by Otomí farmers, who cultivated abundant crops of maize, beans, and agave. However, after the introduction of European sheep by Spanish settlers, the herds multiplied at an astonishing rate. The sheep consumed the native grasses down to the roots and compacted the soil, which triggered severe erosion. The hills are now barren of vegetation, the springs have dried up, and the land can no longer support the agricultural output that once fed the native towns, forcing many to abandon their homes.'

Which of the following processes of the Columbian Exchange is best illustrated by the environmental changes described in the passage?

  1. The introduction of Afro-Eurasian domesticated animals to the Americas, which dramatically altered indigenous landscapes and ecological systems.Answer
  2. B
    The integration of American cash crops into Atlantic Triangular Trade networks to meet European market demands for textiles.
  3. C
    The reliance on advanced European military technology to dismantle indigenous agrarian networks and force population relocation.
  4. D
    The adoption of mercantilist reforms by joint-stock companies seeking to maximize agricultural profits through intensive ranching.

Answer

The introduction of Afro-Eurasian domesticated animals to the Americas, which dramatically altered indigenous landscapes and ecological systems.
The correct answer correctly identifies that the introduction of Old World domesticated animals (sheep) to the Americas led to significant overgrazing, soil erosion, and the disruption of native ecosystems, directly matching the events described in the Mezquital Valley passage.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the stimulus provided in the prompt.
The text describes how European sheep introduced by Spanish settlers multiplied rapidly, consumed native vegetation, compacted the soil, caused severe erosion, and displaced the indigenous Otomí farmers.
Understanding the specific cause-and-effect relationship in the text is necessary to identify the historical process it illustrates.
2
Connect the stimulus details to the components of the Columbian Exchange.
Sheep are domesticated animals native to Afro-Eurasia. Their introduction to Mesoamerica represents the biological and ecological transfer of fauna from the Old World to the New World.
This categorizes the historical event within the framework of transoceanic interconnections.
3
Evaluate the environmental consequences described in the text.
Overgrazing and soil compaction modified the physical landscape and undermined the subsistence agriculture of the indigenous population, illustrating the destructive ecological impact of introduced species.
This matches the environmental changes to the correct option regarding landscape and ecological alteration.

Key Concept

The ecological and environmental consequences of the Columbian Exchange, specifically the introduction of European livestock to the Americas.
Estimated Time:2m 0s
Rate this question

Topics

The Columbian Exchange

More questions from this topic