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Columbian Exchange Dbq Essay

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In the 1400’s - 1700’s the Columbian Exchange had begun following the voyage of Christopher Columbus. On his famous voyage, Columbus found the Americas a new land that no one discovered. This voyage sparked the start of the Columbian Exchange a huge transfer of animals, plants, technology and human populations. The Columbian Exchange positively affected the world because it brought many new crops and foods to the Americas and Europe. Along with new foods, it also brought new animals and religion to the Americas. Although the Columbian Exchange brought many positive items, it also brought diseases like small pox and measles and contributed to slavery. The Columbian Exchange brought new crops to Europe from the Americas that benefitted the Europeans greatly. The new crops allowed for a higher caloric value and caused the Europeans to adopt American crops. In Document 6 it states “… the people of the Americas realized that crops with higher caloric value could not only feed more people, but also allowed people to work harder because they were more energized” (Document 6). These crops allowed more people to be fed and more labor to be achieved in Europe. In Document 8, it lists the different varieties of crops traded through the Columbian Exchange. One example of such a crop is the potato. Crops like …show more content…

These animals would affect the Americas in ways of food, transportation and battle. Document 6 states “Horses, pigs, sheep, and cattle were all European animals that flourished rapidly in the Americas because they were able to reproduce without being hindered by predators” (Document 6). Horses were used in battle to surprise the enemy and make travel faster and pigs were used as a food source. Oxen were used to transport goods faster than natives having to carry supplies on their backs. Document 8 illustrates the trading of livestock such as cattle, sheep, pigs, and

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