Growing up, we all learned a nursery rhyme in history class that taught us the story of the man who discovered the Americas. “In 1492, Columbus sailed the blue ocean.” It's a difficult rhyme to forget, but what's not difficult to forget is everything that was involved. On August 3, 1942, Columbus and thirty-nine men left Palos, Spain, with the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria, in search of a western trade route to China, India, and the legendary Isles of gold and Asian spices. During his trip, he discovered several islands including Cuba and the Bahamas. In December 1492, Columbus landed in Hispaniola, which he believed to be Japan. In March 1493, Columbus returned to Spain with gold, spices and Indian captives, and achieved the highest honors at court (History.com Staff). This voyage marked the beginning of the Columbian Exchange and a new evolution called the New and Old World. The Spanish ruler believed that this would open more avenues for Spain, including colonial rule and strengthening the economy and culture. The term was created by a famous historian named Alfred W. Crosby (Columbianexchange.org). Before the journey, neither world knew anything about the other, including food, animals, crops, and diseases. The only knowledge they acquired was taught to them by their culture in the only world believed to exist. When the Columbian Exchange began between the two worlds, new things began to be introduced as well as several different trade routes. The first exchange was of course the one with which Christopher Columbus returned to Spain on his first voyage. After that, the possibilities were endless. Trade and exploration opened between England, France, Portugal, Africa and Spain, until the middle of the American paper......North and South America today . It began as the true land of the free with endless land, fresh air, roaming animals, 95 percent less disease and everything that someone who loves the world for what it has God created him. Over time, it has undergone a radical change. Little by little, houses began to grow from teepees to what they are today, roads changed from large fields and paths to sidewalks, living off the land turned into a levy on earth, and the current land of the free has transformed into a greedy and Political America. Some say that what the Europeans did amounted to genocide (Walbert). They came in, took over, did what they wanted, whatever the cost. There are life lessons to be taught in everything the world has been through. Take the time to learn from the past so that the future is not infested with mistakes.