The Columbian Exchange refers to a period of cultural and biological exchanges between the New and Old Worlds. Exchanges of plants, animals, diseases and technology transformed European and Native American ways of life. Beginning after Columbus' discovery in 1492 the exchange lasted throughout the years of expansion and discovery. The Columbian Exchange impacted the social and cultural makeup of both sides of the Atlantic. Advancements in agricultural production, evolution of warfare, increased mortality rates and education are a few examples of the effect of the Columbian Exchange on both Europeans and Native Americans.
A Written Alphabet
The written alphabet is notable because of how it was used by the Europeans. Since Native Americans had no formal written language, Europeans knew that establishing relations by way of treaties would be difficult. Europeans educated Natives by teaching them to read and write a European language, this would help break down barriers, thus integrating cultures. At first the natives were skeptical about the written language, because Natives never followed a written agreement, blood oaths were their highest form of agreement. Europeans did not just try and teach them language for the purpose of trade. Europeans used their alphabet to "educate" Natives as well, by trying to convert them to Christianity.
New Farming Capabilities
New Farming equipment like the plow seen to the left ignited the New World economy and improved health on a long term basis. The plow was highly important because it cultivated large areas of land creating a surplus of plants for both Natives and Europeans. Animals such as horses and oxen would pull the plows across the land, this helped to cultivate more land. The vast farming land and rich soil were transformed into crop fields, which then lead to the establishment of towns. Because crops could be grown and the land could be cultivated, towns began to be established near farms. Natives created villages giving evidence of them moving away from the hunter-gatherer society. Europeans experienced greater crop output in the New World because of the rich soil that they did not have in Europe.
New Firearm and Weapon Capabilities
Guns and knives facilitated hunting and fishing for the Native Americans. While Natives already had knives, what they used were very malleable because they were made of obsidian and could not be used over and over like the European knives made of steel and iron. Before guns, spears, hatchets and bows and arrows were the most common used weapons of the Native Americans. A bow and arrow allowed for hunting from greater distances, but they did not do the same amount of damage as a gun. Some animals required more than one arrow to be killed. When Natives witnessed the destructiveness of guns they realized that they could use them for hunting larger animals. Natives now because of the migration of Europeans also had horses to ride. Natives could now chase down large herds of animals quicker and with the guns, they could kill them quicker. Weapons had such a profound impact on the Native American culture that they soon became the most widely traded goods between Europeans and Natives.
Architectural Ingenuity
European Architectural ingenuity helped to build new homes, ranches, farms, ports and ships in the new world. The establishment of these architectural structures lead to the establishment of the first colonial and native towns and also the first government buildings in the new world. Towns relocated Indians from their land into villages and towns. They also changed building patterns that used wood and charcoals which in turn led to more deforestation. Tools used for construction were made of steel and iron, this allowed natives to build stronger homes and it allowed for Europeans immigrants to build there homes to the same standard as back in Europe. The wheel played a major role in construction. Large heavy pieces of construction were able to be transported with greater ease with the wheel. The wheel was later used in ships as well. As more and more homes were built towns were established and with them sea ports as well. Europeans used their own ships to model those made in the New World. With the opening of ports and building of ships the New World, was opened to trade and in the near future, the West African Slave trade.
Disease
Diseases were brought to the New World by Europeans and would wipe out 90% of all Native Americans.
Common Old World Diseases included:
Smallpox
Measles
Malaria
Yellow fever
Influenza
Chicken Pox
The written alphabet is notable because of how it was used by the Europeans. Since Native Americans had no formal written language, Europeans knew that establishing relations by way of treaties would be difficult. Europeans educated Natives by teaching them to read and write a European language, this would help break down barriers, thus integrating cultures. At first the natives were skeptical about the written language, because Natives never followed a written agreement, blood oaths were their highest form of agreement. Europeans did not just try and teach them language for the purpose of trade. Europeans used their alphabet to "educate" Natives as well, by trying to convert them to Christianity.
New Farming Capabilities
New Farming equipment like the plow seen to the left ignited the New World economy and improved health on a long term basis. The plow was highly important because it cultivated large areas of land creating a surplus of plants for both Natives and Europeans. Animals such as horses and oxen would pull the plows across the land, this helped to cultivate more land. The vast farming land and rich soil were transformed into crop fields, which then lead to the establishment of towns. Because crops could be grown and the land could be cultivated, towns began to be established near farms. Natives created villages giving evidence of them moving away from the hunter-gatherer society. Europeans experienced greater crop output in the New World because of the rich soil that they did not have in Europe.
New Firearm and Weapon Capabilities
Guns and knives facilitated hunting and fishing for the Native Americans. While Natives already had knives, what they used were very malleable because they were made of obsidian and could not be used over and over like the European knives made of steel and iron. Before guns, spears, hatchets and bows and arrows were the most common used weapons of the Native Americans. A bow and arrow allowed for hunting from greater distances, but they did not do the same amount of damage as a gun. Some animals required more than one arrow to be killed. When Natives witnessed the destructiveness of guns they realized that they could use them for hunting larger animals. Natives now because of the migration of Europeans also had horses to ride. Natives could now chase down large herds of animals quicker and with the guns, they could kill them quicker. Weapons had such a profound impact on the Native American culture that they soon became the most widely traded goods between Europeans and Natives.
Architectural Ingenuity
European Architectural ingenuity helped to build new homes, ranches, farms, ports and ships in the new world. The establishment of these architectural structures lead to the establishment of the first colonial and native towns and also the first government buildings in the new world. Towns relocated Indians from their land into villages and towns. They also changed building patterns that used wood and charcoals which in turn led to more deforestation. Tools used for construction were made of steel and iron, this allowed natives to build stronger homes and it allowed for Europeans immigrants to build there homes to the same standard as back in Europe. The wheel played a major role in construction. Large heavy pieces of construction were able to be transported with greater ease with the wheel. The wheel was later used in ships as well. As more and more homes were built towns were established and with them sea ports as well. Europeans used their own ships to model those made in the New World. With the opening of ports and building of ships the New World, was opened to trade and in the near future, the West African Slave trade.
Disease
Diseases were brought to the New World by Europeans and would wipe out 90% of all Native Americans.
Common Old World Diseases included:
Smallpox
Measles
Malaria
Yellow fever
Influenza
Chicken Pox