Columbian Exchange New Patterns of Trade Main Idea The voyages of Columbus led to a great transfer of people, plants, animals, and diseases back and forth across the Atlantic Ocean.

The Columbian Exchange Plants, animals developed in very different ways in hemispheres Europeans—no potatoes, corn, sweet potatoes, turkeys People in Americas—no coffee, oranges, rice, wheat, sheep, cattle The Exchange of Goods Arrival of Europeans in Americas changed all this Previously unknown foods taken back to Europe Familiar foods brought to Americas by colonists Sharing Discoveries Introduction of “work animals” to the Americas was very significant. It provided people with a new source of labor and transportation.

Effects of the Columbian Exchange Different Foods Exchange of foods and animals had dramatic impact on later societies Over time crops native to Americas became staples in diets of Europeans Foods provided substantial nutrition and helped people live longer Traditional cuisines changed because of Columbian Exchange Economics Activities like Texas cattle ranching and Brazilian coffee growing not possible without Columbian Exchange Italian Food Without Tomatoes? Until contact with Americas, Europeans had never tried tomatoes Most Europeans thought tomatoes were poisonous By late 1600s, tomatoes had begun to be included in Italian cookbooks

Effects of the Columbian Exchange The Introduction of New Diseases Native Americans had no natural resistance to European diseases Smallpox, measles, influenza, malaria killed millions Population of central Mexico may have decreased by more than 30% in the 10 yrs following European contact Devastating Impact Native American population continued to decline for centuries due to these epidemics (outbreak of disease) Inca Empire decreased from 13 million in 1492 to 2 million in 1600

What were two lasting effects of the Columbian Exchange? Find the Main Idea What were two lasting effects of the Columbian Exchange? Answer(s): possible answers—changes in cuisine, changes in crops grown around the world, epidemics