The Columbian Exchange: Causes and Effects (After 1492) APUSH 2.1

Flashcards covering key vocabulary, events, and impacts of the Columbian Exchange based on lecture notes.

Columbian Exchange

The movement of plants, animals, people, cultures, germs, and ideas between the Americas and the Old World during the period after 1492.

Christopher Columbus

European explorer whose arrival in the Caribbean in 1492 significantly contributed to the Columbian Exchange.

1492

The year Christopher Columbus arrived in the Caribbean, marking a pivotal moment for the Columbian Exchange.

Renaissance

The historical period when European explorers sought new lands, leading to the Age of Exploration and the Columbian Exchange.

Old World

Refers to Europe, Africa, and Asia, which previously traded among themselves due to geographical proximity before interacting with the Americas.

New World

Refers to the American continent, which was opened up to interaction with the rest of the world during the Age of Exploration.

Age of Exploration

The historical era that brought an end to global isolation by connecting the American continent with Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Global Isolation

The state of limited to no interaction between the Americas and the Old World prior to the Age of Exploration.

Atlantic Ocean

The body of water that goods, animals, and diseases crossed in both directions during the Columbian Exchange.

Cattle

One of the livestock animals introduced from Europe to North America during the Columbian Exchange.

Horses

Animals introduced from Europe to North America, significantly impacting transportation and warfare among Native Americans.

Smallpox

A highly contagious and deadly disease exchanged from Europe to North America, causing a massive decline in Native populations.

Maize (Corn)

A high-caloric crop originating in the Americas that improved the diet of peasants throughout Europe.

Potatoes

A high-caloric crop from the Americas that contributed to population increases in Europe.

Tobacco

A plant originating from Central America that became widely popular and helped sustain the economy of English colonies.

Syphilis

A bacterial infection believed to have been shared with Europeans from the Americas.

Sugar

A crop primarily from Africa and Asia, introduced to the Americas where its cultivation expanded, often with enslaved labor.

Rice

A crop primarily from Africa and Asia, introduced to Central and North America during the exchange.

Malaria

A disease exchanged from Africa to Central and North America via the Columbian Exchange.

Yellow Fever

A disease exchanged from Africa to Central and North America during the period of intense exchange.

Atlantic Highway

A term sometimes used to refer to the transatlantic trade route of the Columbian Exchange.

Joint-stock company

An economic development where multiple investors pooled funds to finance expeditions, driving international trade and settlement in the New World.

Feudalism

An economic and social system in Europe that shifted towards capitalism due to population growth and new forms of wealth from the Columbian Exchange.

Capitalism

An economic system that grew in Europe, replacing feudalism, driven by new wealth and international trade facilitated by the Columbian Exchange.

Native American Population Decline

The catastrophic decrease in the indigenous population of the Americas, by as much as 90 percent, primarily due to Old World diseases.

Triangle Trade

A complex trading system that emerged due to the Columbian Exchange, facilitating the spread of race-based slavery in various colonies.