THE COLUMBIAN EXCHANGE

Aaron RubenPeriod 5

The Columbian Exchange was “the transmission of non-native plants, animals, and diseases from

Europe to the Americas” (www.shmoop.com/columbian-exchange), and is

also considered by Shmoop.com, “the single most important event in the modern history of

the world. “

Two alleged pictures of Christopher Columbus, the man the Columbian Exchange was named after.

Items Exchanged

Special Plant

Potatoes, one of the biggest parts of the economy in Ireland, was transported to the country during the Columbian Exchange. It is very important in the culture of Ireland, for during the Great Famine in between 1845-1852, the population dropped 20-25%.

Plant Transfer ListFrom New World to Old World From Old World to New World

Rice White Potatoes

Wheat Sweet Potatoes

Barley Manioc

Oats Peanuts

Rye Tomatoes

Turnips Squash (including pumpkins)

Onions Pineapples

Cabbage Papayas

Lettuce Avocados

Peaches Maize (corn)

Pears

Sugar

Any of these plants can be used for the objective answer.

Special DiseaseOne of the last cases of Small pox recorded in 1977. Small pox was one of the many diseases transferred from the Old World to the New World and was used for bio-terrorism against the Aztecs and was considered for use by the Russians.

A human with the Bubonic Plague, “an infection of the lymphatic system, usually resulting from the bite of an infected flea “ (www.wikipedia.org), which was a disease that was transferred from the Old World to the New World in the Columbian Exchange.

Disease Transfer List

From New World to Old World From Old World to New World

Syphilis Tuberculosis

Smallpox

Malaria

Yellow Fever

Measles

Cholera

Typhoid

Bubonic Plague

Any of these diseases can be used for the objective answer.

Special Animals

In all those Wild West movies and in the stories, you hear about the cowboys riding on horses while going on adventures. Well, in 1491, the year before Columbus sailed the ocean blue, the amount of horses roaming on the Great Plain was only 0, for horses were not introduced into America until 1 year later.

Animals Transfer ListFrom New World to Old World From Old World to New World

Llamas Dogs

Alpaca Fowl

Guinea Pig Camels

Turkey Horses

Donkeys

Pigs

Cattles

Goats

Sheep

Any of these animals can be used for the objective answer.