Lianis Del Valle February 23,2016 Period.02 Mrs. Hoar The Columbian exchange that happened in the year of 1492 had economical, ecological,and social effects on today’s world. What is the Columbian exchange? The Columbian exchange was the widespread transfer of animals, plants, culture, human populations, technology, and ideas between the American and Afro-Eurasian hemispheres in the 15th and 16th centuries, related to European colonization and trade after Christopher Columbus' 1492 voyage. In that voyage many plants, animals, and differ types of culture came to North America. One old world plant that came from Europe to North America is sugar cane, which was brought over by Christopher Columbus on his voyage. Sugar cane has effected north …show more content…
Even though sugar cane is native to southeast Asia. Spanish colonizers snipped seeds from Columbus' fields in the Dominican Republic and planted them throughout their burgeoning Caribbean colonies. Christopher Columbus is credited with taking the first sugarcane to the New World in 1493 however as stated before Spanish colonizers are responsible for introducing the seed. Soon Hispaniola had largely reproduced the industrial processing techniques developed in the Atlantic and made its first shipments of sugar to Europe around 1516.Europeans were already addicted to sugar and used it for many different things in the eastern colonies. By the mid-1520s, large quantities of sugar were being shipped from Brazil to Lisbon. The sweet granular substance proved a sensation among its elite customers, and demand skyrocketed. Cultivation and processing of sugar quickly spread throughout the Antilles and the Brazilian littoral as well as to Mexico, Paraguay, and South America’s Pacific …show more content…
Many ecological effects include Habitat loss, cumulative impacts and impacts on biodiversity, Excessive water consumption in cultivation, Soil erosion, declining soil health and fertility, Agrochemical use, Water pollution, Sugarcane processing, Farming marginal lands , and Global sugar trends with environmental implications. Historical clearing of a wide range of unique habitats for sugarcane cultivation is probably one of the most significant causes of biodiversity loss from agriculture on the planet. Some major effects water pollution had were Diversion from rivers, in extreme cases exposing dry
They brought other things like tobacco, cacao, and cotton, which became very valuable over the years. Cacao bean was grated into a powder and mixed into water and created a bitter drink. The Spanish added sugar and honey to alleviate the bitterness, and in the next hundred years, as it spread throughout Europe, vanilla was added to the mixture producing a new luxury item: chocolate (Horgan). Tobacco, also known as one of the world's most important drugs, has resulted in many smoking products which lead to death around the world. The farmers in the Americas used to give the other continents staples, some of them included corn, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and tobacco.
In 1493 Christopher Columbus returned from his voyage to the Americans and with him brought crops that he had found in the New World. These crops ranged from maize, potatoes, and cassava, to papaya, pineapple,
The Columbian Exchange was the exchange of goods animals and plants from one country to another. The Columbian Exchange had many impacts. Some of them can still be seen today. One example is introduction of new species. Another is the slave trade that happened.
Many different plants were discovered in the Americas including beans, squash, chili peppers, sunflowers,
The Atlantic System grew between 1500 and 1800 because of numerous causes that increased trade between Europe, The Caribbean, and Africa. The English were on an exploration and landed in the New World, also known as, the Americas. While searching the land they found a new crop that was super addictive and taste good, they felt like they needed to have and harness. They demanded so much that they needed workers to help continue the production of the addictive crop. The addictive crop that the Portuguese loved so much is sugar.
From the New World to the Old, potatoes, beans, peanuts, and many other foods became sources of nutrition for many European countries. From the Old world to the New World animals including horses, cows, oxen, sheep, chickens, and pigs were exchanged. Horses allowed Indians to move quickly and efficiently across land. Animals became important for labor, food, and clothing. Sugar cane
The introduction of foreign crops to the New World had a huge impact on the way we live today. Europeans adopted the cultivating techniques of many crops found in the New World such as corn, cocoa, and peanuts. They also introduced popular crops from home such as wheat, barley, and rye. They also introduced a variety of fruits to the New World, such as bananas, peaches, pears, and citruses. However, among the most impactful plants brought to the New World is sugarcane.
Many years ago, a continental drift split North and South America from Eurasia and Africa. As they remained separated, new species of plants and animals developed and evolved on each continent. The Columbian Exchange was a period of physical exchanges between the Old and New worlds. The Old and the New worlds exchanged diseases, populations, crops, and animals. All of these exchanges were brought to the Americas after Christopher Columbus’ voyage to the Americas.
In Europe, they produced potatoes that were more of a balanced nutrition that the Native Americans. Foods at the Old World were transported to Americas for the basis of labor. Europeans also transplanted to local gardens and orchards. Americas transported tobacco to Europe and it became quite popular during the 16th century. Alcohol was quite rare in America, but they were known in America.
The Columbian Exchange was a widespread trade of animals, plants, and diseases. This system allowed us to have access to these items in our everyday lives. I have never realized how much we all have taken many items for granted. For instance, If it wasn 't for the Columbian Exchange, I wouldn 't be able stay awake for my morning classes. I drink a cup of coffee every morning in order to get through my morning classes.
“In the Age of Sugar, Europeans bought a product made thousands of miles away that was less expensive than the honey from down the road. That was possible only because sugar set people in motion all across the world- millions of them as slaves, in chains; a few in search of their fortunes” (Aronson & Budhos pg 7). The production of sugar was a costly task in human life, time, and money for many plantations across the world. “Apparently, if they (growers) did not get the cane into the boiling vats within forty-eight hours- preferably twenty-four hours- their crop would be ruined. Whether that speed was absolutely necessary, owners insisted on it” (Aronson & Budhos pg 26).
Soon after, southeastern colonies started planting sugarcane, too. It became one of the largest cash crops in history. (G, Johnson) Biological changes happened unintentionally through the Columbus Exchange. The Old World brought invasive plant and animal species into the New World. The native species had no natural predators.
Tobacco's popularity skyrocketed after it was taken to Europe and spread as a result of the Columbian
Sugar – a “sweet spice” that changed the eating habits of many early Europeans. Led to consumption of tea, coffee, cocoa, processed foods, and other sweet victuals in much greater number. Transformed labor systems in the new world which began turning it into a much cheaper bulk commodity.
Although North America suffered many negative effects from the Columbian Exchange, but it had led them to the discovery of new plants and animals that has been benefitting them until today. Some of the foods we have today have not been around forever. They had to be brought over from different places. Thanks to The Columbian exchange, crops affected both Old and New World and the one of the major exchanges were plants. The New World had introduced potatoes, corn and tomatoes.