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Sugarcane In The Columbian Exchange

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Millions of years ago, the Earth was divided into two the Old and New Worlds. This lasted for quite some time, so long that different evolutions began. For example, on one side of the Atlantic rattlesnakes developed, but on the other, vipers grew. The Columbian Exchange was the exchange of non-native plants, animals, and diseases brought to the Americas from Europe and vice versa. This all happened after 1492. On October 1492, Christopher Columbus and his crew docked in the Bahamas. As soon as they stepped foot off the ship, two worlds reunited with each other-with both positive and negative effects.(B, Johnson) As different cultures combined, crops and animals did as well. Foods from Europe to America were more livestock than crops. Cows, …show more content…

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. Soon after, southeastern colonies started planting sugarcane, too. It became one of the largest cash crops in history. (G, Johnson) Biological changes happened unintentionally through the Columbus Exchange. The Old World brought invasive plant and animal species into the New World. The native species had no natural predators. When the new animals were introduced, the native species decreased immediately because of lack of protection against the foreign species. Animals such as cows and pigs were herbivores. Because of this, native herbivores had to compete for food with the foreign species. (F, Johnson) Aside from spreading disease and food, the Columbian Exchange also spread religion. Europeans came to the New World with three intentions: gold, glory, and God. The spread Christianity to the Native Americans, but in turn, they did not adapt the Native American’s customs. It helped make Christianity a global religion. Because it was almost forced into the New World, Christianity overruled Islam as well as other religions.

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