the ancient wisdom was that the earth was flat. Columbus proving that this was false would cause folks to begin to further question perceived truths; to question disprovable facts. However, Columbus' "encountering" of a whole new (two) continents and it's peoples would forever change both "worlds." The Columbian Exchange was an EXCHANGE of goods, animals, resources, IDEAS, religion, disease and people. It would lead to an enormous spanish empire int he americas that would last in to the 19th century. It'll eventually lead the French and British to colonize(primarily n. america) The effects of the columbian exchange, in particular european diseases would kill tens of millions natives. The Spanish conquistadors (conquerors) and the business people back in europe whom they represented were horrified by what they saw. Not the death of millions of natives but the lost work force of slaves. This will prompt FIRST the portuguese (who colonize brazil) to import slaves from Africa. Spain follows suit, then England, then france. 

 

The likes of great humanists, compassionate priest like Barolomeo de Las Casas is horrified by what he sees. He is thrilled w the opportunity to convert the millions of native peoples to roman catholicism. The Spanish crown is happy to see this as the MOST Catholic of the euro countries. Accordingly (spoiler alert) Europe will break out in to HORRIBLE religious wars between the catholics and those that wish to reform, then PROTEST it's authority and then ultimately lead the church. These "Protestants" (Martin Luther, Zwinglis, JOHN CALIVIN) will essentially turn all of n. europe including northern HRE and later England into a NON CATHOLIC region. The Catholic church sees the loss of millions of souls to PROTESTantism as dreadful. However, they are made to feel better for two reason. In France, the king(s) will CRUSH any opposition to the Catholic faith AND Catholic missionaries from Spain will convert Native peoples in the western hemisphere(the n, S americas) to Roman Catholicism. Spain's legacy prevails. Roman Catholisim and the Spanish language are the two most dominate religious faiths and language of the western hemisphere south of the USA. 

 

TWO GROUPS OF SPANIARDS IN THE AMERICAS! The Creoles. They are of spanish blood who are born in the Americas. Penninsulares. They are Spaniards born raised in Spain and given title, land, authority in the Americas. They are given this by the spanish king. Peninsulares and Creoles will grow to hate one another. The Creoles are the locals, basically, The Peninsulare are the people w the kings ear who come in and boss creoles around.