Columbian Exchange

Columbian Exchange

The arrival of Europeans in the Americas brought more than a clash of peoples and cultures. It also brought a movement of plants, animals, and diseases between the Eastern and Western hemispheres. This movement of living things between hemispheres is called the Columbian Exchange.
One result of the Columbian Exchange was the transfer of diseases from Europe to the Americas. When Europeans came to America, they brought with them germs that caused diseases such as smallpox, measles, and influenza. Native Americans had no immunity to them.  Although exact numbers are unknown, historians estimate that diseases brought by Europeans decreased Native American populations by 90 to 95 percent between the years 1519 and 1619. 

Other effects of the Columbian Exchange were more positive. The Spanish brought many plants and animals to the Americas. European livestock—cattle, pigs, and horses—all thrived in the Americas. Crops from the Eastern Hemisphere, such as grapes, onions, and wheat, also thrived in the Western Hemisphere.

The Columbian Exchange benefited Europe, too. Many American crops became part of the European diet. Two that had a huge impact were potatoes and corn. They helped feed European populations that might otherwise have gone hungry. Potatoes, for example, became an important food in Ireland, Russia, and other parts of northern Europe. Without potatoes, Europe’s population might not have grown as rapidly as it did during the last five centuries.

By mixing the products of two hemispheres, the Columbian Exchange brought the world closer together. Of course, people were also moving from one hemisphere to the other. 



Websites
short video explaining the exchange
Khan academy video
http://www.eduplace.com/kids/socsci/books/applications/imaps/maps/g5s_u3/index.html
Going to the movies examples of Columbian Exchange