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Sugarcane
Culture:
Sugarcane is commonly harvested in cooler months,
except for countries such as Cuba, Philippines, Columbia,
and similar tropical areas. Sugar is made up of a group of
carbohydrates, Cn(H2O)n. The most often consumed
sugar is called sucrose, which is found in most plants and
mostly used as an industrial sweetener in foods. Sucrose
is a disaccharide created by a glucose molecule linked to
a fructose molecule. Sugar is known for its promising
energy biofuels that developed in Brazil. Sugar raises
blood sugar, which can result in weight gain and damage
to the eyes, kidneys, heart, and nerves. Though without
enough sugar it can result in weight loss and lack of
energy. Sugar is needed in human cells to produce a
healthy amount of insulin, which determines energy.
hannah britt Campbell, Lila Elrod, Tori Mcdermott, Sydney Wynn
Abstract:
Sources:
Sugarcane is believed to have originated near India.
The development of sugarcane slowly spreaded across
Southern Asia. Sugarcane was then sold to European
countries such as Spain and Portugal, which began
growing sugarcane in their African colonies. Later, when
the New World became a popular area for trade and
establishment, Europe began trading to places such as
Cuba and Brazil where slaves were used to harvest the
crop and send to manufacturers to produce goods like
molasses and alcohol which would then be shipped
elsewhere in exchange for Old World money and
commodities.
Origins:
Biology:
Due to the slave trade, the majority population of many
Caribbean nations is Afro-Caribbean. For example, Haiti’s
population is 95% ancestrally African. Christianity is the
majority religion in Haiti, with African voodoo being practiced
by 2.1% of the population (Central Intelligence Agency). As
tropical diseases subsided and Europe suffered the costs of
World War I, the Caribbean became a popular vacation
destination. Today, the Caribbean’s culture is a blend of
indigenous, African, and European. Over 75% of sugar
produced today is derived from sugarcane, and according to
a study from 2016, the average American eats roughly 60
pounds of sugar per year.
Economics:
Sugarcane was deliberately brought to the Americas because
the soil was well suited for the cultivation of sugarcane. The
Europeans found it off the coast of Africa while trading for
slaves, and due to the popularity of the crop, they took it to
the New World. Sugarcane needed lots of land and workers
that could handle the extensive work that needed to be put
into the making of sugarcane. Since slaves were cheap and
worked very diligently, the two became linked for centuries.
Once sugarcane reached the Americas, the sugar industry
thrived. The crop suited the Caribbean soil well which led to
plantations in several countries, vitalizing slave
labor. Originally Natives were used for labor, but the small
population and uncommon sickness’ made it hard for them to
work. African slaves became common since their bodies
could handle the work European diseases. This saved lots of
money because their labor was free and many could be
traded for a small price. Since the Caribbean land was
suitable for the plant and easy to work with, lots of land could
be taken for plantations and for the slaves to live on as well.
Molasses was used as an additive for foods and livestock
feed. Over time it was added to alcohol to make them more
enjoyable. The West Indies became largest sources of sugar
in late 1600s. The economies of Barbados, Guadalupe, and
Martinique were based on sugar, with 93-97% of it exports
being sugar.
The Columbian exchange was an exchange of plants,
animals, and diseases between the Americas and Afro-
Eurasia. Our group researched the exchange and impact
of sugarcane on the new and old worlds and some of the
causes and effects of this crop's exchange. Sugarcane
was an important cash crop that contributed to the growth
slavery and the growth of the economy in the New World.
As we did our research of this crop, we discovered several
things about sugarcane's impact on history and our world
today.
Molasses is also known as "Poor Man's Sugar."
In 1750, Haiti was the largest producer of sugar.
Sugar crystals are made from the juice inside sugarcane,
rather than actual sugar.
Fun Facts:
goo.gl/XxLs7W