The Columbian Exchange

1. The Columbian Exchange The Beginning of a great exchange between the Old World (Europe) and the New World (the Americas).

2. The Columbian Exchange To what does the phrase “Columbian Exchange” refer?

3. The Columbian Exchange In one sense, the “Columbian Exchange” refers to PRODUCTS that were exchanged between the New and Old Worlds after Columbus’ arrival in the Americas.

4. The Columbian Exchange BUT in A MORE COMPLETE sense, the “Columbian Exchange” refers to EVERYTHING that was exchanged … including DISEASES.

5. The Columbian Exchange HERE’S THE WAY IT WORKED…

6. Aztec Empire Mayan States Inca Empire Following Columbus’ voyages of discovery, Spanish conquistadors encountered the Aztec and Incan empires in the New World. In 1492, two major empires in the Americas, the Aztecs and the Inca, ruled many people.

7. Slide 32 States & Empires States and Empires in 1519 CE

8. Slide 33 By 1600, the Spanish conquistadors had conquered the Aztec and Incan empires and extended Spain’s territorial claims even further.

9. Slide 17 The Columbian Exchange Population & Environment Plants, animals, and micro-organisms of the “Old World” were exchanged with those of the Americas across the oceans.

10. Population & Environment The Columbian Exchange New crops, plants, and animals were exchanged world-wide. Luxury products like coffee, chocolate, tea, tobacco, and spices meant new cultural habits for those with money to spend.

11. Trade & Manufacturing Trade in the new products expanded world-wide.

12. Population & Environment The Columbian Exchange HOWEVER… As was mentioned earlier, new crops, plants, and animals were not the only things exchanged world-wide.

13. Population & Environment The Columbian Exchange SO, when discussing the Columbian Exchange, we must include as part of the exchange new diseases which were an unintended consequence of cultural interaction.

14. Population & Environment The Columbian Exchange • "Old World" diseases had a devastating impact on Native American populations because they had no natural immunity to the new diseases. • The smallpox epidemic is believed to have resulted in the largest death tolls among Native Americans, surpassing any warsand far exceeding the mortality from the Black Death.

15. Population & Environment The Columbian Exchange • Population of New World before the arrival of Columbus is estimated between 50 and 100 million. • It is estimated that upwards of 80–95 percent of the Native American population was decimated within the first 100–150 years following 1492. • The most affected regions in the Americas lost 100% of their population. Estimated Population Loss ~ 63,750,000

16. Population & Environment The Columbian Exchange A more complete list of things exchanged must include: • Crops, • Plants, • Animals, • People (slaves) • Cultural characteristics, and • diseases among other things

17. Increased global interaction sped up the process of world change. From 1400 to 1800 the rate of change accelerated more rapidly in many areas of human activity. Slide 13 Population & Environment Ideas & Inventions Trade & Manufacturing States & Empires

18. Summary: The Columbian Exchange contributed to global exchange which led to accelerating world change. • World trade volume increased dramatically and began to shift its center from Asia to the Atlantic region. • States increased their power with gunpowder conquests and new sources of mercantile wealth. • In Europe, rising economic elites enjoyed growing wealth, which led them to challenge old landed aristocracies and monarchs.