Notebook Page 15 - The Columbian Exchange
The Columbian Exchange
Time Period: 1450 CE – 1750 CE
Overview of the Columbian Exchange
A significant period of biological and cultural exchanges between the Americas and the Old World.
Key Products Involved
North America to Europe
Crops: Potato, Peanut, Tomato, Corn, Beans, Vanilla, Tobacco
Europe to North America
Crops and Livestock: Wheat, Sugar Cane, Barley, Oats, Cattle, Sheep, Pigs, Horses, Grains, and various fruits (Grape, Peach, Pear, Citrus Fruits).
Diseases: Smallpox, Influenza, Typhus, Malaria, Diphtheria, Measles, Whooping Cough.
Africa's Contributions
Livestock and Food: Rice, Okra, and introduction of slaves.
Impact on Food Systems
American crops became staples in Euro-Asian diets: e.g., potatoes in Europe, sweet potatoes in China, and maize across Afro-Eurasia.
Large-scale plantation projects for cash crops such as tobacco, coffee, and sugar were initiated.
The Triangular Trade
Definition
A complex trading system developed in the 17th and 18th centuries involving three major regions: Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
The Cycle of Trade
Route 1: Buy slaves from African kingdoms.
Route 2: Transport slaves to labor in New World plantations.
Route 3: Send goods back to Europe for consumption and sale.
Slave Labor's Importance
Slave labor was crucial for the profitability of European empires; many slaves were transported via the Middle Passage.
Indentured servants also traveled to the New World seeking opportunities, while Native American populations began to decline due to diseases and exploitation.
Cultural Exchange
The Atlantic System promoted significant mingling between African, American, and European cultures.
Positive Impacts in the Old World
Increased wealth and populations in Europe.
New World crops led to more diverse diets and a population boom in Afro-Eurasia.
Negative Impacts
Enslavement of Native Americans and Africans for agricultural labor.
Introduction of European-style agriculture caused deforestation and soil depletion.
Massive population declines among Native Americans due to new diseases brought by Europeans.
Encomienda System
Definition
A labor system where Spanish colonizers were granted control over land and local populations.
Social Structure
Peninsulares: Europeans born in Spain/Portugal, seen as superior due to their heritage.
Creoles: European descendants born in the Americas.
Mestizos: Mixed European and American Indian ancestry.
Mulattos: Mixed European and African ancestry.
Zambos: Mixed American Indian and African ancestry.
Silver Mining in the Spanish Empire
The Discovery of Silver
Large silver deposits found in regions like Peru and Mexico led to economic changes.
Mit'a System
Required Native male populations to work in silver mines, emulating the Incan practice.
Economic Consequences
The influx of silver funded European wars but led to inflation and economic strife for Spain.
Silver became a key commodity in Asian markets, particularly for luxury goods, but mismanagement resulted in decline.
Ming Dynasty's Silver Issues
Tax Policy Mismanagement
The reliance on silver for taxation crippled local economies as peasants lacked sufficient silver.
Overproduction of luxury items like silk and tea caused deflation and loss of currency value, impacting food production.