What is the Columbian Exchange? (with pictures)

The Columbian Exchange is the name given to the era in which livestock, agricultural products, and cultural influences moved between the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. Christopher Columbus’ first voyage to the Americas in 1492 is considered the start of the era, and as a result of the interaction, societies in both hemispheres benefited from new products and suffered from new diseases. Author and historian Dr. Alfred Crosby is credited with developing the term, which was the title of his 1972 book on the subject.

A major impact of this era was the introduction of new agriculture crops in each hemisphere. Before Columbus returned from the New World, for example, there were no potatoes grown outside of the Americas, but within a view centuries, potatoes were among Ireland’s food staples. They also became an important ingredient for Russian vodka, which became a major export for that nation. Chocolate also made its way from the Americas and became quite popular in Europe.

Crops such as maize and peanuts were transported by the Portuguese to Africa. These hardy plants could be grown in areas of southern Africa that previously could not sustain agricultural cultivation. Some historians credit the introduction of these crops with increasing the population of the region.

Livestock brought from Europe to the Americas also had a major impact. The Spanish introduced horses to the Western Hemisphere and are credited by some with creating a nomadic lifestyle for many native tribes. Cattle were brought by the Europeans, as well. This allowed people in Texas to raise livestock on land that previously had been too harsh for farming.

Diseases were an unintended negative impact of the Columbian Exchange. The Europeans carried germs to which they had built up immunity, but the people of the Americas had built up no immunity, and whole populations were decimated as a result. Some historians estimate that 50 to 90% of some South American civilizations were wiped out. Others believe that small pox brought from Europe was the single largest cause of death among Native Americans in North America.

The period also was a time of cultural movement. In the early part of the era, between 1492 and 1539, the movement of Spaniards to the Americas was primarily from the Andalucia region of Spain. The impact of that was felt in the architecture, arts, and language of the areas where they settled.