The passage from the Old World to the New World in the Columbian Exchange was made by animals as well as plants, pathogens, and humans. Both non-domesticated and domesticated animals made an impact on the Americas, which transformed agriculture, labor, and food. The differences between animals on each side of the Atlantic were also significant. Some animals produced food, such as the honeybee, while Columbus introduced pigs, chickens, sheep, and cows, which provided meat, milk, and hides. Others were used for labor and transporation such as the horse. Animals were also less affected by disease than humans. We hope visit our online exhibit (right) and learn a great deal about the biological and cultural impact of animals during the Columbian Exchange.
We learned that diseases spread and contributed to the a massive number of deaths. When the Europeans arrived in 1492, carrying germs which thrived in dense, semi-urban populations, the indigenous people of the Americas were effectively doomed. They had never experienced smallpox, measles or flu before, and the viruses tore through the continent, killing an estimated 90% of Native Americans. These diseases spread from people and animals to the Native Americans. Colonists used diseases both intentionally and accidentally to kill off natives, and as a result drastically changed the social, political, and economic systems of the native’s societies. There was also disease transference from the Americas to Afro-Eurasia in the form of syphilis. We hope visit our online exhibit (right) and learn a great deal about the biological and cultural impact of pathogens and diseases during the Columbian Exchange.
Plants affected different aspects of the world, including the culture, the economy, and overall health. Plants changed culture by adding new ingredients to diets, and it also popularized agriculture and trade. Plants added economic value with trade, labor, and inspired technological advances. Lastly, plants affected health by bringing about new health benefits and decreasing health problems like malnutrition. We hope you visit our online exhibit (right) and learn a great deal about the biological and cultural impact of a variety of plants that were exchanged between the Old World (Afro-Eurasia) and the New World (Americas) during the Columbian Exchange.
