The Columbian Exchange & Silver

Columbian Exchange American crops became staple foods in European, Asian, and Africa diets Potatoes (Europe), sweet potatoes (China), and maize/corn meal (all Afro-Eurasia) dominated diets Europeans also began large-scale plantations projects in their colonies for cash crops (tobacco, coffee, & sugar) To the Americas also comes domesticated animals: Horses, pigs, and cattle African slaves also brought rice and okra

The Atlantic System (Triangular Trade)

The Atlantic System Triangular Trade was a system developed by the 17th and 18th centuries Since most American goods were farmed or mined, slave labor was incredibly important to European empire profit The cycle: buy slaves from Africa, send them (Middle Passage) to work in plantations, then send the goods to Europe for consumption or production Some Europeans were also brought over as ‘indentured servants’ that paid for their trip with hard labor (often an escape from poor European conditions) The textiles, salt, or sugar were then sold to African and Asian markets This, along with the incorporation of Spanish silver created the first truly global trade network

Impact of Exchange The biggest impacts on the Old World were wealth and population Europeans began to not only control trade, but from the Americas, they now had goods to fight over and sell Additionally, the food from the Americas was far more diverse and calorie-dense This led to a wide-spread population boom through Afro-Eurasia On a more negative note, it also introduced the enslavement Of Native Americans and Africans for large-scale plantation work Additionally, European-style agriculture did (and continues) to cause mass deforestation and soil depletion

Spanish Silver In Peru, Mexico, and later Nevada, the Spanish discovered HORDES of silver Copying the Incans, they adopted the (more severe) mit’a system and required peasant male natives to work the silver mines While this made Spain insanely rich, they had no idea how to handle inflation or their taxes (not adjusted for inflation) They then used this silver to fund many, many wars in Europe they could not win (eventually going bankrupt) Spanish silver was also used in Asia to purchase goods such as tea (England got hooked!) Too much silver = silver is worthless

Impact on China This is turn caused silver inflation in Asia—most notably China when the Ming Dynasty switched to silver-only taxation payments As a result, most Chinese peasants and workers were forced to make items (luxury goods) Europeans would pay silver for The effect? WAYYYY too much silk & porcelain and not enough food Too much silk = silk is worthless!