The Age of Exploration Outcome: Columbian EXCHANGE

What was the Columbian exchange? The Colombian Exchange was the transfer of goods and ideas from one continent to the other. Transferred foods from the “Old World” (Europe) to the “New World” (The Americas): Rice Wheat Barley Sugarcane Olives Kentucky Bluegrass Dandelions Oats Transferred foods from the “New World” (The Americas) to the “Old World” (Europe): Corn Potatoes Beans Tobacco Peanuts Squash Cocoa Chicle (gum) Pineapples Avocados Tomatoes Peppers

Some crops grew better in their new lands. Benefits of New Foods Healthier and more diverse diets were now available in both the new and old worlds. There was a rise in the permanent farm class in both North and South America. Some crops grew better in their new lands.

The Economic Side of the Columbian Exchange Mercantilism emerged as the preferred trade system of the day. “An economic policy under which nations sought to increase their wealth and power by obtaining large amounts of gold and silver and by selling more goods than they bought.” Colonization Boom: Colonized new lands to get raw materials for free (or at least cheaply)

Dark side of the Columbian Exchange Food, animals, and unwanted poor people were not the only things transferred from nation to nation. Smallpox and Typhus killed thousands of Native Americans. Native Americans spread syphilis to European traders, settlers, and explorers.

The Triangular Trade: How it worked America: sent raw materials (lumber, molasses, coal, & indigo) Europe: sent manufactured goods (boats, rum, cloth, & gun powder) Africa: sent slaves

Triangular trade route, contd. While the triangular trade was not completely bad or centered around slavery, it did facilitate the transfer of Africans to the Americas for the purpose of involuntary servitude.

The Middle Passage Africans were overloaded onto slave ships and sent from Africa to the Caribbean and Brazil.

Why Africans? Why not Native Americans? Geography Africa is within close proximity to Europe and its trade routes. Native Americans knew too much about the Americas and were quick to get away. Circumstances Native Americans died from illnesses brought by Europeans at an alarming rate. Africans had been exposed to European diseases and were immune to the number one killer: Malaria.