The Columbian Exchange

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to the Columbian Exchange, its historical significance, and its impacts on global trade and demographics.

Columbian Exchange

The commingling of Old and New World plants, animals, and bacteria following the arrival of Europeans in the Americas.

Divergent Evolution

The process by which different species evolve from a common ancestor and develop unique characteristics.

Old World

Refers to Europe, Asia, and Africa, especially prior to the discovery of the Americas.

New World

Refers to the Americas, particularly during the period of European exploration and colonization.

Sugar Legislation

Laws and regulations surrounding the production and trade of sugar, significant for the economic importance during the colonial era.

Tobacco

A cash crop cultivated for sale that became popular in Europe after 1492.

Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade

The historical trading of enslaved Africans to the New World, primarily for labor on plantations.

Mercantilism

An economic policy aimed at accumulating wealth through trade, asserting that colonies existed to benefit the mother country.

Encomienda System

A Spanish labor system that granted colonists authority over Indigenous people, requiring them to provide labor or tribute.

Plantation Economy

An economic system based on the large-scale production of cash crops, often using enslaved labor.