The Columbian The Columbian ExchangeExchange

1450-1750 Lesson 21450-1750 Lesson 2

DefiningDefining• Refers to the Refers to the

biological, human, biological, human, and cultural and cultural exchange between exchange between the “Old World” & the “Old World” & the “New World” the “New World” between 1492-between 1492-1600’s1600’s

FundamentalsFundamentals• Not possible since Not possible since

last Ice Agelast Ice Age

• Environmental Environmental impacts of new impacts of new speciesspecies

• Inevitable effects on Inevitable effects on societiessocieties

Biological Biological ExchangeExchange

• Items of greatest Items of greatest impact—impact—– diseasedisease

– sugarcanesugarcane

– potatoespotatoes

Biological Exchange: Biological Exchange: DiseaseDisease• Note lack of infectious Note lack of infectious

disease in Americas—disease in Americas—why?? (remember Guns, why?? (remember Guns, Germs, and Steel)Germs, and Steel)

• Smallpox & Measles:Smallpox & Measles: decimate up to 85% of decimate up to 85% of native pops. in Americasnative pops. in Americas

• Syphilis:Syphilis: slower, harder slower, harder to spread, but ravages to spread, but ravages Europe for 500 yrs.Europe for 500 yrs.

Biological Exchange: Biological Exchange: DiseaseDisease

SmallpoxSmallpox

Syphilis (secondary)Syphilis (secondary)

Biological Exchange: Biological Exchange: SugarSugar• Ideal for tropical Ideal for tropical

AmericaAmerica• VERYVERY labor intensive labor intensive

– problems for problems for EuropeansEuropeans

– nature of the worknature of the work• Difficult work + disease Difficult work + disease

effects = need for labor effects = need for labor (slavery)(slavery)

Biological Exchange: Biological Exchange: PotatoPotato

• Root crop flourishes Root crop flourishes in thin soil & cooler in thin soil & cooler climatesclimates

• Highly nutritiousHighly nutritious• Over time, becomes Over time, becomes

staple of peasant staple of peasant diets (cheaper than diets (cheaper than grain)grain)

Cultural ExchangeCultural Exchange• Syncretism:Syncretism: refers to blending of refers to blending of

cultural aspects of different groupscultural aspects of different groups• Primarily impacts AmericaPrimarily impacts America

– Language (CreLanguage (Creóle, various óle, various patoispatois))– Religion (Christianity, Voodoo, Religion (Christianity, Voodoo,

SanterSantería, Candomble)ía, Candomble)– Dress (Panama shirt, Bermuda shorts, Dress (Panama shirt, Bermuda shorts,

sombrerossombreros))– Traditions/Customs (Carnival, Traditions/Customs (Carnival, DDía de ía de

los Muertoslos Muertos))– Music (Music (SambaSamba, Reggae), Reggae)

Human ExchangeHuman Exchange• Primarily impacts AmericaPrimarily impacts America• 85% of American pop. dies, 85% of American pop. dies,

1500-16001500-1600• European immigration—small European immigration—small

until 1800’suntil 1800’s• Transatlantic Slave Trade—11 Transatlantic Slave Trade—11

million Africans, 1500-1820million Africans, 1500-1820• New racesNew races

– Mestizo:Mestizo: Euro & Indian Euro & Indian– Mulatto:Mulatto: Euro & African Euro & African– Zambo:Zambo: African & Indian African & Indian