Benefits Of The Columbian Exchange

The period where the Old World meets the New and changed life for both sides with the transfer of crops, livestock, and disease is commonly called the Columbian Exchange. The Columbian Exchange or the Great Exchange occurred after europeans touched shore on the New World after the initial Christopher Columbus voyage. In 1972 historian Alfred W. Crosby coined the term “The Columbian Exchange” with his book called the same title where he wrote about the ecological ramifications of Columbus to the New World. Crosby talks about how Columbus brought two completely different worlds together into one. The Columbian Exchange massively benefitted the people of Europe, but brought a horroring fate to the native americans. The Exchange has been called the most important event in the modern history of the world. The Columbian had a lot of benefits, but was the downfall of the native americans and an uprising for the europeans. …show more content…
Major plants/crops were introduced by the europeans brought over on the voyage were coffee, sugar cane, bananas, rice and wheat. These crops were imported for their own use, but natives soon learned how to cultivate these new crops. On the other side what the europeans took back home were mainly crops. Minor crops brought back to Europe were Squash, pumpkin, papayas, avocados and guavas. Major crops taken include Corn, potatoes, beans, tobacco, tomatoes, cacao. Corn became very popular being spread throughout Europe after the first voyage.The voyagers also learned important new agricultural techniques which outearned the gold and silver which was the original goal of the