columbian exchange

animals, plants, and goods


european → new world

ox, horses, ect

military technology

cows, chicken, pig, sheep

wheat, rice, sugar, coffee


new world → eurpoeans

tabbacco

chocolate

vanilla

gold and silver

corn, tomatoes, potatoes, squash, beans


potatoes are a staple for: irish, british, ect. ( potato famine causes mass casualties)


Culinary Culture Exchanged

  • Tomatoes (think Italian), but those are native to the Americas

  • Peanuts (think Thai), but those didn’t exist in Asia until Columbian Exchange

  • Potatoes (think Ireland), but those are native to the Americas

People Relocated

  • Many Europeans traveled to the New World seeking fortunes, escape religious persecution, or to gain a fresh start in life

Diseases Transferred

  • Europeans treated natives like garbage, but it was really the diseases that wiped out the most

    • Smallpox, typhus, dysentery

  • 16th century = almost 90% of the native populations died

  • Natives lacked the immunity and resistance to “Old World” diseases

  • New world gave syphilis to the Europeans

Slaves Traded

  • Traded for agricultural and other labor

  • Taken (mostly from Portuguese and British port colonies in East Africa) Middle Passage

Religion and Politics Transferred

  • Europeans brought Christianity

  • Europeans brought national sovereignty, idea of individual rights, social contract

  • Europeans brought basic economic theory (changing goods for $$$)