What was the
Columbian Exchange?
The Global Transfer of Plants, Animals, and Diseases
between the Old World and the New World
Is the Answer to the question
that easy?
What impact did the
Columbian Exchange actually
have on the New World?
Plants?
Animals?
Diseases?
Religion?
Language?
Technology?
Economy?
Society?
Politics?
Discovery of New World Plants
maize, beans, squash, chili peppers,
potatoes, sweet potatoes, manioc,
sunflowers, chenopods, peanuts, tomatoes,
avocado, pineapple, cacao, and tobacco
Most Important New World Plants
Maize (Corn)
• Staple food of Native American Diet
• Flourished throughout the New World
• Great ability to grow in Europe
• Excellent Subsistence Crop
• Alternative to Wheat Crops
• Indefinite Storage when Dried
Potatoes
• Came from the Andes Mountains
• Brought to Europe by Pizzaro
• Cheap food source for Sailors
• Resistant to Cold Temperatures
• Easily grown in thin soils
• Staple food for Lower Classes
Most Important
Old World Plants
Sugarcane
• Essential form of sucrose
• Difficult to grow in Europe (Climate)
• Flourished in New World (Caribbean)
• Large Scale Plantations
• Need for Slave Labor
• One of the Largest Cash Crops
Coffee Beans
• Produces stimulant called Caffeine
• Difficult to grow in Europe (Climate)
• Flourished in New World (Caribbean)
• Large Scale Plantations
• Need for Slave Labor
• One of the Largest Cash Crops
Introduction of Old World Animals
Boar (Pigs)
• Reproduce at a fast rate
• Primary form of meat for Explorers
• Easily preserved packed in salt
• Columbus introduced to Caribbean
• Pizzaro introduced to Peru
• De Soto brought them to Florida
• By 1514 over 30,000 in Cuba alone
Sheep
• Poor adaptation to the wild
• Predators kept reproduction low
• Carried disease that killed Lamas
• Columbus introduced to Caribbean
• Pizzaro introduced to Peru
• De Soto brought them to Florida
• Wool influenced clothing industry
Introduction of Old World Animals
Horses
• Plentiful on the Iberian Peninsula
• Primary transportation for Explorers
• Spanish introduced to New World
• Initially frightened Native Americans
• Many were released into the wild
• Domesticated by Native Americans
• Eventually called “Big Dogs”
Cattle
• Dominant Beast of Burden in Europe
• Used for pulling carts & plows
• Killed for Hides and Meat
• Meat dried and Stored (Beef Jerky)
• Required large grazing lands
• Survived well in most climates
• Staple export good to Europe
Accidental Introduction of Diseases
Rats Cockroaches Diseases
• Came to the New World by Mistake
• Unintentional Stowaways on ships
• Usually infected with European diseases
• Natives impacted due to lack of immunity
• Killed off many native wildlife & insect species
• Diseases killed thousands of Native Americans
• Small Pox
• Influenza
• Typhus
• Measles
• Malaria
• Cholera
Introduction of Christianity
“By the Book” or “By the Sword”
• Europeans believed that Christians were more Civilized than Barbaric Natives
• They believed the Natives would be damned unless they were Converted
• They believed the Spread of Diseases was due to the Heathen’s Sinful Lives
• They believed the Native’s Conversion was the next evolution to being Civilized
• They believed their Acceptance of Christianity would Bond them to Europeans
• They believed Educating the Natives to Read would lead to their Conversion
Introduction of the Alphabet
• Most Native Tribes didn’t have a Formal Writing System
• Europeans needed Tribes to be able to Sign Treaties
• Europeans figured writing would help break the barrier
• Europeans Educated the Natives by teaching the Bible
• Eventually Europeans taught Natives European Writing
• Some Tribes Eventually developed their own Alphabets
Introduction of New Technology
European Ard (Plow) European Musket
• Important to cultivate large areas
• Took advantage of Fertile Soils
• Facilitated by use of Oxen & Horses
• Helped Increase Crop Production
• Promoted Trade in Cash Crops
• Improved Diet, Nutrition, & Longevity
• Increased Global Population
• Facilitated European Conquest
• Initially considered magic by Natives
• Improvement from Native Bow & Arrow
• Allowed for Hunting at greater distance
• Became major Trade Commodity
• Used by Europeans to Exploit Natives
• Cherished by Native Warrior Clans
New Economic Based Systems
Encomienda System Hacienda System
The assignment to colonizing
Spanish nobles of a group of
Indians for forced labor and
tribute in exchange for
protection.
A large Spanish land grant
to deserving nobles that was
more or less self-sufficient
and ruled by the Noble with
absolute authority.
(Much like the grant of a medieval
fiefdom in feudal Spain).
(Much like the relation between serfs
and peasants of feudal Spain)
New Social-Classes Evolved
Peninsulares Creole Mestizo
• In Spanish-America, Status in Society was significantly linked to Purity of Blood
• Spaniard born in Spain
• Living in the New World
• Colonial High Officials
• Loyal to Spanish Crown
• Most trusted by the King
• Pure-Blood Spaniard
• Born in the New World
• Wealthy Land-Owners
• Well Educated (In Spain)
• Often Military Trained
• Mixed European-Indian
• Born in the New World
• Also called “Castas”
• Minority Elite
• Largest Colonial Group
New Social-Classes Evolved
Mulattos/Zambos Indios (Indians) Negros (Africans)
• In Spanish-America, Status in Society was significantly linked to Purity of Blood
• Mixed Race Minority
• White/Indian & African
• Peasant Population
• Lowest Accepted Class
• Tendency to Rebel
• Native Americans
• “Indigenous People”
• Peasant/Slave Labor
• Alienated by Society
• Declined due to Disease
• African Born
• Imported as Slaves
• Owned as Property
• Regulated by Law
• Limited Freedom
New Political Rivalries
• Claiming New Lands
• Desire for Resources
• Legends of Riches
• National Pride/Honor Spain
Portugal
• Treaty of Tordesillas
• Divided Hemispheres
England
France
• British Colonies
• French Quebec
• French & Indian War
Global Impact
• Largest Voluntary Migrations in History
• Native American Populations Devastated
• Largest Forced Migration in History (Slavery)
• National Rivalries Caused Major Conflicts
• New Global Trade Markets changed the World Forever (Capitalism & Mercantilism)
• Silver Trade Linked Americas, Spain & China
• 1/3 of All Food Crops originated in America