Historical Debate Competition: Advantages and Disadvantages of New Routes ~ Seeking Views ~

First of all, it caused a commercial revolution. Due to the opening of new air routes, the scope of European trade has expanded unprecedentedly, and the ties between Western Europe and all ethnic groups in the world have been strengthened, and the world market has begun to take shape. The European trade center moved from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic coast, and Italy's commercial status was gradually replaced by Spain, Portugal, Britain and the Netherlands.

Second, it caused a "price revolution". After the opening of the new sea route, Spain and other countries plundered a large amount of gold and silver from the colonies, and the precious metals in Western Europe increased by more than three times, causing the price of gold and silver to fall, the price to rise, and the purchasing power of money to decrease. From the 1930s of 16 to the end of 16, the prices in Spain rose more than four times, and those in Britain, France and other countries rose by two to two and a half times. While paying the devalued currency wages, the bourgeoisie sells goods at high prices and makes huge profits. The fixed-currency land rent collected by feudal landlords was also affected by the price revolution. The price revolution is one of the factors of primitive accumulation, which has helped the growth of capitalism in western Europe.

Third, with the opening of the new sea route, Portugal and Spain first began colonial expansion and plunder, but because the property plundered by Spain and Portugal from the colonies was for feudal rulers to enjoy and was not used to develop capitalism, it is said that after the opening of the new sea route, the strength of Spain and Portugal actually declined.

Fourthly, it proved the correctness of the earth circle theory, impacted the feudal theological theory and laid the foundation for the ideological revolution in western Europe later.

Fifth, it has broken the relative isolation around the world and created conditions for the formation of the world market.

Sixth, the plunder of western European countries led to the poverty and backwardness of the colonies in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Seventh, it led to the rise of the slave trade and made Africa lose at least 1 100 million healthy people.

Eighth, it promoted the migration of population and the emergence of a new country. For example, in the18th century, the American nation was born.

Ninth, the road of colonial plunder: the colonial expansion of the West eventually led to the subordination of the East to the West. Positive impact: After the opening of the new air route, the traffic between Europe and Asia, America and Africa became increasingly close, and the industrial and commercial economy along the Atlantic coast of Europe flourished, which promoted the emergence and development of capitalism. It tempered Europeans' spirit of daring to take risks and struggle, broadened their horizons, connected all regions of the world, expanded the space and scope of human activities, and broke the previous situation that all regions of the world were fragmented and isolated.