columbian exchange

What was the Columbian Exchange?

The widespread transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, technology, diseases, and ideas between the Americas, West Africa, and the Old World in the 15^{th} and 16^{th} centuries.

Old World to New World Contributions

Items brought to the Americas from Eurasia and Africa included:

• Livestock: (Horses, Cattle, Pigs)
• Crops: (Wheat, Sugar, Coffee)
• Diseases: (Smallpox, Measles, Influenza)

New World to Old World Contributions

Items brought to the Old World from the Americas included:

• Crops: (Maize, Potatoes, Tomatoes, Tobacco, Cacao)
• Animals: (Turkeys, Llamas)

Demographic Impact on Indigenous Peoples

The introduction of Old World diseases, notably (smallpox), led to a catastrophic decline in Native American populations, with mortality rates estimated as high as 90\%.

Global Dietary Impact

The exchange revolutionized global food production; specifically, nutrient-dense crops like the (potato) and $$(maize