In 1492, Christopher Columbus embarked on the infamous voyage that accidentally landed him in what we know now as North America. His mishap has led to many of the most influential changes in history, including the transfer of many goods and ideas to the New World. Although this may seem like a good thing, the Columbian Exchange also caused mass destruction to Native American populations by introducing many diseases and causing war among them over the land. When these two previously separate worlds united, the impact was rather large. The introduction of foreign crops to the New World had a huge impact on the way we live today. Europeans adopted the cultivating techniques of many crops found in the New World such as corn, cocoa, and peanuts. They also introduced popular crops from home such as wheat, barley, and rye. They also introduced a variety of fruits to the New World, such as bananas, peaches, pears, and citruses. However, among the most impactful plants brought to the New World is sugarcane. It is necessary for obtaining sucrose, a vital part of every diet. In Europe, the crop was very difficult to raise due to the climates which made it very rare. However, once introduced to the New World, sugarcane plants thrived thanks to the plantation system. Without sugar, the way we enjoy tea, …show more content…
The New World did not rely on animals as heavily. They had llamas, which could not become beasts of burden. However, Europeans introduced animals such as cattle, donkeys, chickens and horses to the land. These animals could be used for carrying loads as well as food. Because these animals were introduced to the New World, we have formulated advanced agricultural techniques to raise them for food. If they were not introduced, most people would live off of a relatively plant-based diet, thus lacking protein. Livestock is also one of the leading economical industries
Columbus and his men brought disease that eventually wiped out massive amount of the Indian population. Eventually on the return of the Sailors to their home lands Syphilis began to spread slowly at first and then quickly into epidemic proportions throughout other their native land and soon spread to other nations. These exchanges of diseases during the Columbian Exchange had a profound effect on the world then and continues to affect our world today. Although disease is one of the main thing we think of when we think of the Colombian exchange, we normally forget or even not know of the technology that was brought to the New World.
It would be an understatement to say that 1492 was a relatively important year in world history. Despite the relative shortness of a year when compared to time period of century, the year 1492 is exceptionally important, as it can be argued that without the events that transpired in that year, multitudes of other events may not have occurred until later; because of the extra time it would take for the area to be discovered, some events may not transpire at all. The arrival of Columbus in the Caribbean led to various other expeditions and events, such as the formation of the encomienda system, the colonization of the surrounding areas, and the exchange of products between the New and Old Worlds known as the Columbian Exchange. When Columbus returned from his first venture to the Caribbean, he brought Native Americans with him to Europe, where they were promptly baptized and became Christian. To King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, who had already put into effect
The dog and the alpaca were two of the few domesticated animals in pre-Columbian America. The bison was the largest mammal in the Americas, yet it resisted being domesticated. Furthermore. The new species had no natural predators in the Americas. Nevertheless, because they ate a lot of indigenous flora, these recently introduced creatures disturbed the natural equilibrium.
Europe provided demanding market for sugar, cultivation of this crop in the Americans became exceptionally profitable. Later on, the cultivation
The New World gave gold, silver, corn, potatoes,beans,vanilla,chocolate,tobacco, and cotton. The Europeans also went to Africa and brought slaves
The Colombian exchange created a great cultural impact on The Americas which can be seen even today. Wiping out up to ninety percent of Native Americans, the settlers that came to America created a biological imperialism on another scale. The demand from European countries for exportation quickly created a market that settlers could benefit from and Native Americans could not compete with. Deforestation started on a massive scale due to the high availability of lumber, and seas quickly started to be depleted of fish. The introduction of livestock and agriculture created an environmental revolution.
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.
Some of these were short-term effects, and others were long-term effects. The Columbian exchange is responsible for mass production of silver coins, which caused inflation; trade of corn and potatoes; which changed farming habits of Europeans; destruction of forests and plains in the New World, which caused Native Americans to change their hunting habits; and spread diseases, which caused a decline in Native American population. This is important because all of these effects of the Columbian exchange played a role in developing modern America. The Columbian exchange has helped shape America and without it, the America that stands today may be completely
A few of these included wheat, oaks, rice, barley, bananas, sugar cane, and even that nice cup of coffee everyone seems to enjoy. Plants that are native to the New World and extended to the Old World were mainly compromised of corn, potatoes, tomatoes, and cocoa. The animals that were transported from Europe were usually cows, horses, pigs, chickens, goats, and sheep while on the other “world” there was only one; the mighty and ferocious llama. These plants and animals were not much harm to the Native Americans when introduced, although one things that was an immense threat were the diseases and the impact they left behind the New World was not known for diseases and are hardly and recordings of them at all before the Europeans settled. However, the Europeans were notorious for illnesses since they were not much for hygiene.
Sugarcane is a form of sucrose and used in almost all cultures. It is a historical crop that started in New Guinea. Because it was difficult to grow on European soil, it was very rare. When Columbus made his second voyage to the New World, he brought back sugarcane. Plantations in Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica made the production of the crop prosper.
Over time the Europeans brought new crops such as bananas and sugar. Domestic livestock such as cattle, pigs and sheep were integrated into the America’s as time went on. These crops and animals were quickly spread among the Native American’s that still had their land. The horse in particular greatly aided them, as the only animal that they had tamed so far was the dog. Raising these animals and growing new crops provided much more food than before.
During the early 1400’s European exploration initiated changes in technology, farming, disease and other cultural things ultimately impacting the Native Americans and Europeans. Throughout Columbus’ voyages, he initiated the global exchange that changed the world. The exchange of plants, animals, and diseases between the Old and New World began soon after Columbus returned to Spain from the Americas. These changes had multiple effects, that were both positive and negative. Although the Columbian Exchange had numerous benefits and drawbacks but the drawbacks outweighs the benefits.
The Columbus Exchange led to a large increase of population in Europe which led to other important events in the future. Alfred Crosby, the author of the book titled The
Plants such as tobacco, maize, beans, tomatoes, and especially the lowly potato eventually revolutionized the international economy as well as the European diet. In exchange, the Europeans introduced Old World crops and animals to the Americas. Over time, the variety of crops and foods widened for both the Europeans and the Natives -- as they were also, more accessible. The Natives were introduced to the firearms by Europeans and traded with them, whenever possible, since the nature of hunting and
The Columbian Exchange refers to the monumental transfer of goods such as: ideas, foods, animals, religions, cultures, and even diseases between Afroeurasia and the Americas after Christopher Columbus’ voyage in 1492. The significance of the Columbian Exchange is that it created a lasting tie between the Old and New Worlds that established globalization and reshaped history itself (Garcia, Columbian Exchange). Worlds that had been separated by vast oceans for years began to merge and transform the life on both sides of the Atlantic (The Effects of the Columbian Exchange). This massive exchange of goods gave rise to social, political, and economic developments that dramatically impacted the world (Garcia, Columbian Exchange). During this time,