The Colombian Exchange was a trade of animals, plants, diseases and technologies between the American, African and European Continents in the 15th and 16th centuries. This trade began when Columbus voyaged over to the New World in 1492. If Columbus had not discovered the Americas then the world would be very different today. The consequence, good or bad, of Columbus’ voyage was this exchange of goods between the Old and New Worlds, the Old World being Europe and Africa, and the New World being the Americas. The exchange of a wide variety of crops and livestock helped to increase the population in both hemispheres of the world.
Some of the many positive exchanges from the Old to the New World were animals, plants, and technologies.
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Without this exchange of plants Italy wouldn’t have tomatoes, there would be no coffee in Columbia, Hawaii wouldn’t have any pineapples, and there would be no rubber trees in Africa. The Old World exchanged apples, bananas, barley, basil, carrots, garlic, mango, tea, and most importantly sugarcane with the New World. Sugarcane was so important to the New World because it was a good form of sucrose, and was used in coffee, chocolate and tea; this made it very addictive to the Naive Americans. Due to this addictive quality, sugarcane became one of the largest cash crops in history. In exchange for these crops the New World traded chili peppers, cocoa, cotton, squash, potato, tobacco, vanilla, and most importantly potatoes, and maize. Potatoes had a big impact on Europe because they could easily be grown in the weak soil. Potatoes became an essential food for the lower class in the Old World. Maize or corn was one of the most important crops traded during the Columbian Exchange. It could be stored dry for a long time and it was a great substitute to wheat because it grew quicker and in areas where wheat couldn’t be
The Columbian Exchange refers to the reestablishment of the Old and New World including the changes of plants, animals and bacteria. The New World contained many new resources that the Europeans have never seen before, therefore this led to many changes that they would have to get used to very quickly. The exchange of crops such as maize to China and white potato to Ireland are stimulant to population growth in the Old World. This impacted the lives of the people in Europe because of the shift in their food supply.
Srinivas Chandran Prof. Adam Hill History Midterm October 8, 2015 List A: Question 2 The Columbian exchange became a major factor in the development of the “Old World” and the “New World”. The Columbian exchange started during 1492 between major European powers such as the Spanish and Portuguese and the Native Americans of the Americas. The exchange was started by Christopher Columbus, who is the person who discovered the Americas. The Europeans brought plants, animals and diseases along with them to the “New World” (Americas), plants such as wheat, barley, oats and grapes were brought in by the Europeans.
Items brought from the Americas to the Old World included, pumpkins, cashews, peanuts, chocolate, vanilla, black pepper, turkey, potatoes, coffee, lettuce, pineapples, sunflowers, and cabbage. Potatoes became popular in Europe because it was easy to grow and store for long periods of time. Maze became a staple food in
The Columbian exchange both negatively and positively affected the relationship and interactions between the natives and Europeans in North America. Positively, the natives received new technology, goods, and animals, such as horses, cows, coffee, and wheat. These new supplies allowed the natives to build their societies, and improved the ease in which they were able to live. This increased the assimilation of European cultures among native tribes, as the natives witnessed the technological prowess-at a level akin to magic to the natives-that the Europeans maintained. However, the introduction of New World products such as gold, silver, corn, potatoes, and tobacco to the Europeans began to change the native's viewpoint.
Prior the Columbian Exchange, Europeans were not able to grow any crops in their cold climates. With the Columbian exchange, Europeans were able to grow corn, potatoes, beans, avocados, tomatoes, and pumpkins. Corn was the most useful crop that was brought back because it was able to grow in the cold weather. With the increase of food and favorable growing seasons the population of the world began to grow.
This was the greatest export of America to Europe and profitable. Europe’s climates made it very difficult to grow the sugarcane and tobacco. America gave the Europeans maize. Maize was important to the Native Americans because it was sustainable for long periods of time when it was dried. Maize also is adaptable that it can grow just about anywhere
The exchange, which lasted throughout the years of discovery and expansion, began after Columbus discovered America in 1492. The Columbian exchanged altered both of these cultures in a plethora of ways. This event had a massive effect on both Native American and Europeans, with a few examples being the improvement of agricultural products, increased mortality rates and education, advancement of ware, etc. This
Shortly after Christopher Columbus landed on Hispaniola, the link between the New World and the Old World solidified in relation with Europe’s desire to trade and colonize. The intermixing of these two hemispheres during this time is referred to as the Columbian Exchange. This period of drastic biological and political changes revolutionized the world and had many lasting repercussions. One effect of the Columbian Exchange was the change in diet and agriculture. Before, Italian’s would not have tomatoes, Indians would not have chiles, Columbia would not have coffee beans, and Ireland would not have potatoes.
The Columbian Exchange In October of 1492, Christopher Columbus, and his crew, made it to the New World and brought forth an exchange that changed the world. This exchange is now known as the Columbian Exchange, as titled by the American historian, Alfred Crosby. The Columbian Exchange is the exchange of goods, animals, and even diseases between the New World and the Old World. While the Columbian Exchange is an important part of history for many countries, how did it revolutionize the Americas?
Some of the fruits and vegetables included sweet potatoes, maize, chili peppers, squash, tomatoes, pumpkins, peanuts, vanilla, pineapple, eggplant, tobacco, cassava, cashews, carrots, corn, and potatoes. Some other crops included, cacao beans, sunflower seeds and sunflowers, soybeans, and green beans. When corn was brought back to Europe, Asia, and Africa it affected them the most. Because it grew in unfitting places for grains and tubers. They could also use corn to feed livestock such as pigs.
Some states thrived under the trade, while others economically deteriorated so drastically that they continue to suffer today. Despite the consequences, the trade connected the world closer than ever before. A main reason why Europeans colonized the New World with such swiftness and determination lay in the drinks of nobles and the soil of peasants. Sugar was in high demand during the 1500s and 1600s, and the fertile coasts of the Carribean and Brazil made for a perfect environment. Sugar cane was just the tip of the iceberg: Europeans soon discovered crops native to the Americas that heavily impacted world economy, a prime example being the potato.
During the late 1400s and the early 1500s, European expeditioners began to explore the New World. Native Americans, who were living in America originally, were much different than the Europeans arriving at the New World; they had a different culture, diet, and religion. Eventually, both the Native Americans and the European colonists exchanged different aspects of their life. For example, Native Americans gave the Europeans corn, and the Europeans in return gave them modern weapons, such as various types of guns. This type of trade was called “the Columbian Exchange.”
Not only America and England were affected by the Columbian Exchange ; without the Columbian Exchange the foods that currently present in many locations across the world wouldn’t be there. In document 2 it states, “Today some 200 million Africans rely on it as their main source of nutrition. Cacao and rubber, two other South American crops, became important export items in West Africa the 20th century.” Also in document 2 it states, “Indeed, almost everywhere in the world, one or another American food crops caught on, complementing existing crops, or more rarely, replacing them.” These two quotes demonstrate that the Columbian Exchange brought about a massive change in the foods people
We should characterize Columbus and his legacy positively because of the good effects of the Columbian Exchange, which was a descending event of Columbus’ journey. In the Columbian Exchange, crops like corn and potatoes, which have many uses, were traded. Because these crops can grow in almost any setting, they were extremely useful to both the Europeans and the Indians. Many useful grains and livestock were
This affected the wealth of the economies specifically by the exchange of the ideas of growing crops and the swapping of animals. The colonies in the New World became efficient producers of some Old World transplants like: sugar, coffee, and wheat. They also struck an interest in animals such as: horses, pigs, cattle, and chickens. While the Old World learned how to grow potatoes, maize, and tobacco. The exchange of the animals inspired new methods of farming, and both the Old and New World seemed to be able to support their colonies with their knowledge of new crops.