List the animals, crops, and diseases exchanged between the New World and the Old World during the Columbian Exchange.

Geography · Middle School · Tue Nov 03 2020

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The Columbian Exchange refers to the widespread transfer of animals, plants, culture, human populations, technology, diseases, and ideas between the Americas, West Africa, and the Old World in the 15th and 16th centuries, after Christopher Columbus' 1492 voyage. This exchange greatly affected almost every society on earth, leading to significant changes in agriculture, ecology, and culture.

Animals, crops, and diseases that were exchanged between the New World (Americas) and the Old World (Europe, Asia, and Africa) include:

  • Animals from Old World to New World: - Horses - Cattle (cows) - Pigs - Sheep - Goats - Chickens - Honeybees - Various breeds of dogs - Cats
  • Animals from New World to Old World: - Turkeys - Llamas (although llamas did not become widespread in the Old World) - Guinea pigs - Muscovy ducks
  • Crops from Old World to New World: - Wheat - Rice - Barley - Oats - Coffee - Sugar cane - Grapes (for wine) - Bananas - Apples - Oranges - Lemons - Peaches - Pears - Various types of melons - Olives - Onions
  • Crops from New World to Old World: - Maize (corn) - Potatoes (white and sweet) - Tomatoes - Tobacco - Beans (several varieties) - Peanuts - Squashes (including pumpkins) - Pineapples - Papayas - Avocados - Chili peppers - Cacao (for chocolate) - Vanilla
  • Diseases from Old World to New World:- Smallpox - Measles - Influenza - Typhus - Malaria - Diphtheria - Whooping cough (pertussis) - Scarlet fever
  • Diseases from New World to Old World: - Syphilis is typically cited as one of the few significant diseases transmitted from the New World to the Old World.

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