The Columbian Exchange

By SIMMIE HAYES

Christopher Columbus: An explorer who sailed across the Atlantic in 1492 and reached the Americas, though he thought he was in Asia.

Conquistador: A Spanish soldier and explorer who conquered native civilizations in the Americas, like Hernán Cortés with the Aztecs.

New technology enabled European explorers to sail farther and faster with greater confidence than ever before. Devices like the magnetic compass and astrolabe allowed sailors to find their direction and estimate their position, even in bad weather. Combined with accurate new maps and the lateen sail, which allowed ships to sail against the wind, these innovations launched the Age of Exploration and a new era of global connection.

The Columbian Exchange and its Significance

The permanent link established by Columbus’s voyage began a massive transfer of people, goods, technology, and—tragically—disease between the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. Historians call this transfer the Columbian Exchange.

This exchange was one of the most significant events in world history because it changed life on every continent:

The new food crops from the Americas (like the potato and corn) helped populations grow in Europe, Africa, and Asia because they were easy to grow and provided vital nutrition. The introduction of horses changed the culture of Native Americans making hunting and war easier.

This exchange was one of the most significant events in world history because it changed life on every continent:

The new food crops from the Americas (like the potato and corn) helped populations grow in Europe, Africa, and Asia because they were easy to grow and provided vital nutrition. The introduction of horses changed the culture of Native Americans making hunting and war easier.

While Native Americans were building communities, Europeans were beginning to explore the world. Many explorers came to North America looking for new trade routes and wealth. Some wanted to find gold or valuable spices, while others wanted to find a shortcut to Asia. One of these explorers was Christopher Columbus. In 1492, Columbus sailed across the Atlantic Ocean and landed in the Americas, though he believed he had reached Asia.

Soon after Columbus’s return, other European nations—Spain, France, England, and the Netherlands—began exploring and building colonies in the Americas.

• The Spanish were conquistadors (conquerors) who explored Central and South America, looking for gold and wealth. A Spanish conquistador named Hernán Cortés, for instance, conquered the mighty Aztec Empire in what is now Mexico.

• The French focused mainly on the region that is now Canada and the northern United States, setting up trading posts to exchange furs with Native Americans.

• The English and other groups began establishing permanent settlements, such as Jamestown in 1607, starting a process that would forever change the land.