The Columbian Exchange resulted in the widespread exchange of plants, animals, and diseases between the Eastern and Western Hemispheres following the voyages of Christopher Columbus in 1492. This large-scale biological and cultural exchange included crops, livestock, commodities, technologies, cultures, languages and peoples between the Americas and the Old World.

1. European Exploration

2. By the fifteenth century, Europeans were aware of
places as distant as Africa, India and China.
However, they had no idea of the existence of the
Americas. Yet by 1650, most of the Atlantic coastline
of the Americas would be under the control of
European powers.
Europe Explores the “New World”

3. Why did Europeans begin to explore the
world during the 15th and 16th
centuries?

4. CuriosityCuriosity
• Wanted to know “what was really out there”Wanted to know “what was really out there”
• During the Renaissance period, peopleDuring the Renaissance period, people
became more educated and curious aboutbecame more educated and curious about
the worldthe world
• Started askingStarted asking questionsquestions

5. Economic ReasonsEconomic Reasons
Wealth (Gold)Wealth (Gold)
• Spain acquired a great deal ofSpain acquired a great deal of wealthwealth
in goldin gold taken from the Americastaken from the Americas
(Aztecs, Inca)(Aztecs, Inca)
• People were seeing new wealth fromPeople were seeing new wealth from
investment and trade.investment and trade.
• European countries hoped to increaseEuropean countries hoped to increase
theirtheir profitsprofits through exploration.through exploration.

6. Political ReasonsPolitical Reasons
Fame & GloryFame & Glory
• With fame came wealthWith fame came wealth whichwhich
motivated explorers and themotivated explorers and the
monarchs who funded them.monarchs who funded them.

7. Political ReasonsPolitical Reasons
National Pride &National Pride &
GloryGlory
• In the early 15In the early 15thth
century countries in Europecentury countries in Europe
(Spain, France, Portugal, England, &(Spain, France, Portugal, England, &
Netherlands) hoped to extend theirNetherlands) hoped to extend their
influence through exploration.influence through exploration.
• LANDLAND == WEALTHWEALTH == POWERPOWER
• Spain, France, & England constantly foughtSpain, France, & England constantly fought
wars to control the most landwars to control the most land

8. Religious ReasonsReligious Reasons
Religion & GodReligion & God
• European missionaries,European missionaries,
especially from Spain andespecially from Spain and
Portugal, sought toPortugal, sought to spreadspread
the Christian religion.the Christian religion.
• Christian missionariesChristian missionaries
believed they not only havebelieved they not only have
a superior religion, but alsoa superior religion, but also
a superior culture.a superior culture.

9. Foreign GoodsForeign Goods
• Marco Polo wrote of what he found in China –
silks, spices, jewels, and gold.
• Polo’s writings encouraged an increase in trade.

10. Better TradeBetter Trade
RoutesRoutes
• European merchants and rulers were anxious to find a
sea route to reach China and the Spice Islands of the
East Indies.
• This would allow European merchants to ship these
luxury goods more easily back to Europe.
• Traveling by land was slow, expensive, and
dangerous
• Columbus believed he could travel west across the
ocean and reach Asia (up to this point everyone had
traveled east, never west).

12. Spain, France and England were ready to
claim land in the Americas.

13. Reasons For EuropeanReasons For European
ColonizationColonization (Gold, Glory & God)(Gold, Glory & God)
Nation Purpose
Spain
Spread Religion, Gain
Wealth, Expand
Empire
France Fur Trade, Expansion
England Religious Freedom,
Economic Opportunity

14. • Italian sea captain, Christopher Columbus
found support for his voyage from the King
and Queen of Spain.
• Columbus was looking for a faster route to
the Indies to
– find gold, jewels and spices
– possibly convert heathens to Christianity
 Heathen - an offensive term that deliberately insults somebody who
does not acknowledge the God of the Bible, Torah, or Koran

16.  Columbus set sail in 1492.
 He never reached Asia, but instead landed in the
West Indies, where he established Spain’s first
settlements in what became known as the “New
World.”

18. The “ColumbianThe “Columbian
Exchange”Exchange”
• Columbian Exchange – The exchange of
plants, animals, and diseases between
the Eastern and Western Hemispheres
that occurred after 1492.
• Europeans learned about new foods,
such as corn, tomatoes, potatoes, and
chocolate from the Americas.
• Europeans introduced the Americas to
sugar, wheat, oranges, grapes and
onions.

19. The “ColumbianThe “Columbian
Exchange”Exchange”
• Europeans also introduced many new animals to
the Western Hemisphere, including horses,
sheep, goats, cows, cats, and rats.
• The Americas exposure to the Europeans also
brought diseases like smallpox, typhus, cholera,
and measles. Approx. 2 to 18 million Native
Americans died from European diseases since
they had no immunity.

20. The “ColumbianThe “Columbian
Exchange”Exchange”

21. The “ColumbianThe “Columbian
Exchange”Exchange”

22. A conclusion best supported by this illustration is that the
Columbian Exchange
(1) increased the isolation between Europe and the Americas
(2) ended the slave trade in the Eastern Hemisphere
(3) led to the spread of disease to the natives of the Americas
(4) resulted in a decrease in trade between North America and Europe