The Columbian Exchange began after Christopher Columbus' voyage to the Americas in 1492 and involved the widespread exchange of plants, animals, crops, populations, and diseases between the Eastern and Western hemispheres. Major impacts included the introduction of devastating diseases from Europe that killed around 80% of the indigenous population in the Americas by 1650. Agricultural products like corn, potatoes, and cacao were brought to Europe while crops like wheat, sugarcane, and livestock spread in the Americas, transforming farming. The introduction of horses had significant cultural impacts for some Native American tribes. Overall, the Columbian Exchange dramatically altered societies and ecosystems on both sides of the Atlantic.

1. Columbian Exchange
Mrs. Sample
Sixth Grade
Social Studies

2. What is the Columbian Exchange?
• Trading of Culture
• Named after Christopher Columbus
• The Exchange of crops, good, animals, and
diseases
• Began after Columbus voyage in 1492

3. Resource: Brainpop
• Columbian Exchange
http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/worldhi
story/columbianexchange/

4. How did it begin?
• Christopher Columbus arrives in the New
World in 1492.
• Begins and exchange between the Old World
(Europe) and the New World (the Americas).
• As the Spanish Empire spreads- the native
people begin to decline.
– Indigenous population = native people
• African slaves also become part of this
exchange.

5. What does it look like?

6. What was the Impact?
• Turn to some one next to you and discuss:
• What are some positive impacts of the
exchange on the Natives and the Europeans?
• What do you think are some of the negative
impacts?

7. Decline of Indigenous Population
• New diseases were introduced into Latin
America by European Explorers.
• This included smallpox, measles, whooping
cough, typhoid fever, and influenza.
• Native Americans did not have an immunity to
these diseases and they died by the millions.
• Healers did not know how to treat the
diseases.
• Between 1492 and 1650, more than 80% of
Native Americans died of European diseases.

8. Agricultural Changes
• Brought new foods both to Europe and Latin
America.
• Europe was introduced to corn, tomatoes,
peppers, pumpkins, squash, and cacao beans
(chocolate)
• Natives were introduced to wheat, barley,
sugarcane, coffee, peaches, and livestock such as
pigs, sheep, and cattle.
• Farming changed in the Americas and large
plantations with slave labor were started.

9. Introduction of the Horse
• Horses changed the life of Native Americans
• Horses were used for transportation and labor
• Allowed for them to hunt buffalo (food
source)
• Used for battle and trade
• Remained the major mode of transportation
until the 20th century.
• We measure engines with “horsepower”

10. Columbian Exchange