Columbian Exchange
Definition
The Columbian Exchange refers to the widespread transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, technology, diseases, and ideas between the Americas (New World) and the Old World (Europe, Asia and Africa) in the 15th and 16th centuries following Christopher Columbus's voyages.
Analogy
Think of it like a massive potluck dinner where everyone brings something different to share. Europe brought horses and wheat; America brought potatoes and tomatoes. But just like at any potluck, not everything shared was good - diseases were also exchanged which had devastating effects on indigenous populations.
Related terms
Old World: The "Old World" is a term used primarily in the West to refer to Africa, Europe, and Asia (or Eurasia), regarded collectively as the part of the world known before contact with the Americas.
New World: The "New World" is one of the names used for majority of Earth's Western Hemisphere, specifically the Americas (including nearby islands), in relation to Europe.
Indigenous Peoples: These are ethnic groups who are native to a particular place. In this context it often refers to Native Americans who were greatly affected by the Columbian Exchange due to disease transmission.
"Columbian Exchange" appears in:
Study guides (2)
Practice Questions (20+)
What important animal did Europeans introduce to Native Americans through the Columbian exchange?
Which of the following goods in the Columbian Exchange benefited the people of Eurasia?
What was a source of mineral wealth brought to Europe from the Americas through the Columbian Exchange?
Why was there a shift from feudalism to capitalism after the Columbian exchange?
What did the Columbian exchange result in?
What were the key exchanges that occurred during the Columbian Exchange?
How could the outcome of the Columbian Exchange have differed if disease hadn't decimated large portions of native populations?
The Columbian Exchange refers to which historical event?
What was one significant impact of the Columbian Exchange?
Who primarily benefited economically from the Columbian Exchange during the Spanish conquest period?
Which crop introduced to the Americas during the Columbian exchange had a significant impact on the African slave trade?
What was one major environmental impact of the Columbian exchange?
Which crop, introduced during the Columbian Exchange, had a significant impact on the European diet?
Which of the following was a primary motive for Spanish exploration and conquest during the Columbian Exchange?
What was one significant impact of the Columbian Exchange on Native Americans?
Which crop played a crucial role in sustaining large populations in Europe after being introduced through the Columbian exchange?
Which of the following was not brought to America by Europeans during the Columbian Exchange?
What was a major impact of the Columbian Exchange on Europe?
How did the spread of European diseases during Columbian Exchange primarily affect Native American populations?
What was a significant effect of the Columbian Exchange on European society?
Resources
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