"The soil is so fertile that it produces in abundance all the crops of Spain. Where the Indians once grew only maize, Spanish farmers have introduced wheat and barley, which now flourish in the valleys. Orchards of peaches, quinces, and pomegranates, brought from Europe, have been planted by the friars, and they grow alongside native cacao. Thus, the land has been transformed by the bringing of new seeds across the ocean."
—Adapted from a Spanish colonial description of Mesoamerica, mid-sixteenth century
Which of the following historical developments is most directly illustrated by the agricultural changes described in the passage?
- AThe establishment of the encomienda system to allocate land tracts and native laborers to Spanish conquistadors.
- BThe transfer of native Western Hemisphere crops to Europe to sustain growing populations.
- The expansion of the Columbian Exchange, which brought European crops and agricultural practices to the Western Hemisphere.Cevap
- DThe creation of a unified and homogenous cultural identity among diverse Indigenous farming communities.
Cevap
The expansion of the Columbian Exchange, which brought European crops and agricultural practices to the Western Hemisphere.
The correct answer is correct because the passage describes Spanish farmers and friars introducing European crops (wheat, barley, peaches, quinces, and pomegranates) to the Americas. This movement of plants across the Atlantic Ocean is a central element of the Columbian Exchange, which brought about massive ecological and agricultural shifts in the Western Hemisphere.
Adım Adım Çözüm
Anahtar Kavram
The Columbian Exchange
İpuçları
1
Identify the geographical origins of the crops mentioned in the text. Where did wheat and peaches come from, and where were they being planted?
Tahmini Süre:45s