Introduction
The globalization and decentralization of territories resulted in interactions between different societies in the world. Some of the major interactions recorded in history include the first and the second world wars, the cold war, the colonization of countries and the fight for independence among others.
These interactions are often characterized by exchanges in cultures and civilizations among the parties that interact. This paper seeks to discuss some of the exchanges that took place during some interactions. The paper will look at the consequences of these interactions.
The conquest of Aztecs
Aztecs were natives of the current Mexico. With its capital in Tenochtitlan, the Aztec was a well established empire that had conquered territories. The interaction between the Aztec and the Spaniards began as a missionary activity by the Spaniards to convert the Aztecs into Christianity. The Christian mission however did not bear much fruit due to language barrier.
The Spaniards would shout to the Aztecs in the name of preaching, inconsiderate of the fact that the Aztecs never understood the Spanish language. Failure to repent on their knees led to the murder or slavery of the Aztecs (Tangen 1).
The turn of events however started with the arrival of Hernando Cortes who established a Spanish colony in Mexico. Cortes challenged the Aztec empire in the year 1519 and seized the Aztec leader, Montezuma (Library 1). The Aztecs revolted against Cortes and defeated Cortes and his troops, an event that led to loss of many lives and valuable commodities following the collapse of a bridge as the rivals passed.
Cortes however survived the incident, reorganized a troop and attacked Aztec again. He conquered the territory this time round and “destroyed the city” before building another one at the very same location (Tangen 1). The effects of the war included the loss of sovereignty of the Aztecs as the second attack by Cortes led to the defeat of the natives. The first war also led to loss of lives of both Aztecs and Spaniards as pass Way Bridge collapsed with people on it. The collapse of the bridge also caused loss of treasure of the Aztecs.
The arrival of the Spaniards also brought with it diseases to the natives. The diseases like “small pox and measles” which were introduced by the arrival of the Spaniards killed about seventy five percent of the Aztecs. The war also led to the destruction of the Aztec city. The natives however acquired new species of domestic animals like “horse, sheep, cattle and pig”. The Spaniards also brought sugar together with consumable crops which they introduced to the natives. The Spaniards on the other hand acquired the territory (Tangen 1).
Missionaries (Religion)
Missionary work is another aspect of the world history that left its effects felt by the receiving societies. Most of the areas visited by early missionaries still feel the impacts of the activities and the initiatives of the missionaries.
Oregon country is one of the societies that experienced missionary work that started in the early periods of the nineteenth century. The missionary work was then followed by a range of immigration into the land. One of the impacts of the missionaries in Oregon was the successful establishment of white settlement in the territory.
It is recorded that though the missionaries failed in their core duty of converting the natives, they managed the task of settlement. The long term effect of the settlement would be the loss of land by the natives to the settlers. Another impact of the mission was the establishment of schools in the Indian Territory. As was the custom of the missionary establishments, schools were built to help the natives learn how to read and write as well as to entice them into the faith (History 1).
Another effect of the Oregon mission was the transmission of diseases from the visitors to the natives. The diseases had an adverse effect on the Indians and claimed a lot of lives. It is recorded that in the first year of the first established mission school, fifty percent of the registered students died of the infections and the rest fled, probably after falling ill or after being scared by the infections.
A large number of the natives in the area died of the diseases brought by the visitors. The failed mission to convert the Indians led to the call for traders and farmers to come to Oregon to help in spearheading the work of the missionaries. The group came and was further followed by a massive immigration into Oregon.
Another impact of the missionary work was the later establishment of a formal government and towns in the country. After the missioners’ call for back up, the vast immigration followed and later led to the establishment governance. It was also the missionary work that led to the colonization of Oregon. In seeking protection for the American settlers, the lead missionary whose name was Lee changed from being a missioner to colonizing the land (History 1).
Conclusion
Exchange between cultures and civilization occurs when different societies come into contact. The societies more often interact in one way or another and a number of things are acquired by the different societies. The interactions always have impacts on either or both of the parties. The case of the interaction between the Spaniards and the Aztecs saw both negative and positive effects on both parties. The Oregon mission also benefited the missionaries in acquiring land for their people but also established schools that later benefited the natives.
Works Cited
History. Jason Lee’s Mission to Oregon. Historic Oregon City, n.d. Web.
Library. Aztecs: Conquest. Library Think Quest, n.d. Web.
Tangen, Turid. The conquest of the Aztecs. Web Chron, 1997. Web.