The Columbian Exchange

What was the

Columbian Exchange?

The Global Transfer of Plants, Animals, and Diseases

between the Old World and the New World

Is the Answer to the question

that easy?

What impact did the

Columbian Exchange actually

have on the New World?

Plants?

Animals?

Diseases?

Religion?

Language?

Technology?

Economy?

Society?

Politics?

Discovery of New World Plants

maize, beans, squash, chili peppers,

potatoes, sweet potatoes, manioc,

sunflowers, chenopods, peanuts, tomatoes,

avocado, pineapple, cacao, and tobacco

Most Important New World Plants

Maize (Corn)

• Staple food of Native American Diet

• Flourished throughout the New World

• Great ability to grow in Europe

• Excellent Subsistence Crop

• Alternative to Wheat Crops

• Indefinite Storage when Dried

Potatoes

• Came from the Andes Mountains

• Brought to Europe by Pizzaro

• Cheap food source for Sailors

• Resistant to Cold Temperatures

• Easily grown in thin soils

• Staple food for Lower Classes

Most Important

Old World Plants

Sugarcane

• Essential form of sucrose

• Difficult to grow in Europe (Climate)

• Flourished in New World (Caribbean)

• Large Scale Plantations

• Need for Slave Labor

• One of the Largest Cash Crops

Coffee Beans

• Produces stimulant called Caffeine

• Difficult to grow in Europe (Climate)

• Flourished in New World (Caribbean)

• Large Scale Plantations

• Need for Slave Labor

• One of the Largest Cash Crops

Introduction of Old World Animals

Boar (Pigs)

• Reproduce at a fast rate

• Primary form of meat for Explorers

• Easily preserved packed in salt

• Columbus introduced to Caribbean

• Pizzaro introduced to Peru

• De Soto brought them to Florida

• By 1514 over 30,000 in Cuba alone

Sheep

• Poor adaptation to the wild

• Predators kept reproduction low

• Carried disease that killed Lamas

• Columbus introduced to Caribbean

• Pizzaro introduced to Peru

• De Soto brought them to Florida

• Wool influenced clothing industry

Introduction of Old World Animals

Horses

• Plentiful on the Iberian Peninsula

• Primary transportation for Explorers

• Spanish introduced to New World

• Initially frightened Native Americans

• Many were released into the wild

• Domesticated by Native Americans

• Eventually called “Big Dogs”

Cattle

• Dominant Beast of Burden in Europe

• Used for pulling carts & plows

• Killed for Hides and Meat

• Meat dried and Stored (Beef Jerky)

• Required large grazing lands

• Survived well in most climates

• Staple export good to Europe

Accidental Introduction of Diseases

Rats Cockroaches Diseases

• Came to the New World by Mistake

• Unintentional Stowaways on ships

• Usually infected with European diseases

• Natives impacted due to lack of immunity

• Killed off many native wildlife & insect species

• Diseases killed thousands of Native Americans

• Small Pox

• Influenza

• Typhus

• Measles

• Malaria

• Cholera

Most Obvious Impact of the

Columbian Exchange

Introduction of Christianity

“By the Book” or “By the Sword”

• Europeans believed that Christians were more Civilized than Barbaric Natives

• They believed the Natives would be damned unless they were Converted

• They believed the Spread of Diseases was due to the Heathen’s Sinful Lives

• They believed the Native’s Conversion was the next evolution to being Civilized

• They believed their Acceptance of Christianity would Bond them to Europeans

• They believed Educating the Natives to Read would lead to their Conversion

Introduction of the Alphabet

• Most Native Tribes didn’t have a Formal Writing System

• Europeans needed Tribes to be able to Sign Treaties

• Europeans figured writing would help break the barrier

• Europeans Educated the Natives by teaching the Bible

• Eventually Europeans taught Natives European Writing

• Some Tribes Eventually developed their own Alphabets

Introduction of New Technology

European Ard (Plow) European Musket

• Important to cultivate large areas

• Took advantage of Fertile Soils

• Facilitated by use of Oxen & Horses

• Helped Increase Crop Production

• Promoted Trade in Cash Crops

• Improved Diet, Nutrition, & Longevity

• Increased Global Population

• Facilitated European Conquest

• Initially considered magic by Natives

• Improvement from Native Bow & Arrow

• Allowed for Hunting at greater distance

• Became major Trade Commodity

• Used by Europeans to Exploit Natives

• Cherished by Native Warrior Clans

New Economic Based Systems

Encomienda System Hacienda System

The assignment to colonizing

Spanish nobles of a group of

Indians for forced labor and

tribute in exchange for

protection.

A large Spanish land grant

to deserving nobles that was

more or less self-sufficient

and ruled by the Noble with

absolute authority.

(Much like the grant of a medieval

fiefdom in feudal Spain).

(Much like the relation between serfs

and peasants of feudal Spain)

New Social-Classes Evolved

Peninsulares Creole Mestizo

• In Spanish-America, Status in Society was significantly linked to Purity of Blood

• Spaniard born in Spain

• Living in the New World

• Colonial High Officials

• Loyal to Spanish Crown

• Most trusted by the King

• Pure-Blood Spaniard

• Born in the New World

• Wealthy Land-Owners

• Well Educated (In Spain)

• Often Military Trained

• Mixed European-Indian

• Born in the New World

• Also called “Castas”

• Minority Elite

• Largest Colonial Group

New Social-Classes Evolved

Mulattos/Zambos Indios (Indians) Negros (Africans)

• In Spanish-America, Status in Society was significantly linked to Purity of Blood

• Mixed Race Minority

• White/Indian & African

• Peasant Population

• Lowest Accepted Class

• Tendency to Rebel

• Native Americans

• “Indigenous People”

• Peasant/Slave Labor

• Alienated by Society

• Declined due to Disease

• African Born

• Imported as Slaves

• Owned as Property

• Regulated by Law

• Limited Freedom

New Political Rivalries

• Claiming New Lands

• Desire for Resources

• Legends of Riches

• National Pride/Honor Spain

Portugal

• Treaty of Tordesillas

• Divided Hemispheres

England

France

• British Colonies

• French Quebec

• French & Indian War

Global Impact

• Largest Voluntary Migrations in History

• Native American Populations Devastated

• Largest Forced Migration in History (Slavery)

• National Rivalries Caused Major Conflicts

• New Global Trade Markets changed the World Forever (Capitalism & Mercantilism)

• Silver Trade Linked Americas, Spain & China

• 1/3 of All Food Crops originated in America