Columbian Exchange
a series of interactions and adaptations among societies across the Atlantic, including plants, animals, disease, people, etc.
The Columbian Exchange was a transformative period in world history that occurred in the aftermath of Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the New World in 1492. The event marks the beginning of the transfer of plants, animals, and diseases between the Eastern and Western hemispheres.
During the Columbian Exchange, crops and livestock such as wheat, grapes, horses, and cattle were introduced to the Americas from Europe, while the Americas exported crops like maize, potatoes, and tomatoes to Europe. This exchange of plants, animals, and technologies drastically altered the diets, economies, and cultures of both the Old and New Worlds.
However, along with the exchange of crops and livestock, diseases were also brought to the New World from Europe, such as smallpox, measles, and influenza, which had a devastating impact on indigenous populations who had no immunity to these illnesses. The exchange of diseases, in particular, led to a sharp decline in the population of indigenous people in the Americas.
Overall, the Columbian Exchange brought about significant changes in terms of the transfer of ideas, plants, animals, and diseases between Europe and the Americas, permanently altering the course of world history.
More Answers:
The Transformative Impact of Spanish Horses, European Guns, and Metal Tools on Native American CommunitiesThe Encomienda System: A Historical Analysis of Spanish Colonialism in the Americas
The Columbian Exchange: Impact on the World’s History with the Introduction of New Goods, Ideas, and Diseases