Foods, Products, and Diseases THE COLUMBIAN EXCHANGE

Columbian Exchange The transfer of plants, animals and diseases between the New World and the Old World New World = Americas Old World = Eastern Hemisphere

From the Americas Maize (corn) Sweet potatoes Potatoes Silver and gold Syphilis* Yellow fever * maybe.

Maize (corn) Easy to grow High-yield crop Appeared in China in 1555 Brought via land routes and sea trade routes

Sweet Potatoes Easy to grow Do not need seeds to replant Used first as animal food, then as food for humans

Potatoes Only major staple that provides all nutrients essential to human health Spread with war since peasants wanted crop that was easy to hide from soldiers

From Eurasia Horses and cattle Wheat Sugarcane Jewels & Silk Plague & Flu

Horses and Cattle No large domesticated animals before this Made large-scale farming possible Made communication and transportation easier

Wheat From central Asia and Europe Grew well in valleys Wheat bread was sign of sophistication Not adopted by natives They preferred maize

Sugarcane Transplanted from Asia First transplanted crop to have major world impact Major trade item Hard to grow, harvest, and refine Very labor intensive

Other major products Coffee from Mideast Tea from Asia Chocolate from central America Tobacco from Caribbean