Regarding the Columbian exchange, why did the ecological factors surrounding the re-connecting of the continents (Americas and Europe) favor the Old World (Europe)? Is there any irony in this?
I need further clarification if I'm answering this question right and if I'm going in the right direction.
As a result of the Columbian Exchange, the quality of life increased due to new agriculture being produced in Europe. However, the Old World was already immune to diseases such as smallpox and syphilis which it brought to the New World. Is this what the first part of the question is referring to, "ecological"?
Also, by the re-connecting of the continents, it introduced diseases such as smallpox and syphilis that devastated mass groups of people. Those were the same people that worked on plantations and were "slaves" in a sense. Is this what is meant by irony? This is the part which I'm most unsure how to answer because I don't see any irony?