Effects of the Columbian Exchange of Flora and Fauna on the Old World and New World

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Effects of the Columbian Exchange of Flora and Fauna on the Old World and New World
The Columbian Exchange marks one of the most important periods of world history. The event, which led to the discovery of the American continent and for the first time linked it to the rest of the globe, is known by the name Christopher Columbus, after the great world explorer who was responsible for its discovery. The subsequent development of the Triangular Trade, which flourished between 1492 and 1750 C.E., was also a direct result of this link. Because of this, transportation routes connecting Europe, Africa, and the Americas were set up. Triangular trade was important because it brought new species of plants and animals to these regions, which in turn influenced their way of life. In this study, we'll look at how the introduction of new plant and animal species to these areas ushered in a brand-new global order.
The Old World comprising European nations benefitted greatly from the Columbian Exchange. In Europe, new types of foods were introduced from the Americas, which result in improved diets and a general increase in lifespans. Moreover, European economies benefitted from trade which led to improvement of living conditions in the continent. At the same time, the New World consisting of Africa and the Americas also benefitted from the exchange. In America, raw materials were shipped to industries in Europe. In exchange, America benefitted from manufactured goods from Europe. Consequently, American economy flourished as a result of their trade with European economies. Furthermore, domestic animals were transported from Europe to America, which helped improve the transport and carrier industries in the continent.[Nathan Nunn and Nancy Qian, “The Columbian Exchange: A History of Disease, Food, and Ideas,” Journal of Economic Perspective 24, no. 2 (2010): 162, doi:10.1257/jep.24.2.163.]
The African continent is mostly known for its slave labor that was shipped to the Americas during the Columbian Exchange period. However, African slaves who were brought to the Americas brought various crops that are indigenous to Africa, such as okra, yams, black-eyed peas, and some varieties of pepper. Although the food was not traded directly, African slaves began cultivating the crops for their own consumption. These crops were introduced into the American cuisine and have existed up to this day. The Columbian Exchange allowed Africa to benefit greatly from a wide range of crops that came from Europe and the Americas. In addition, Europe also transported manufactured goods to Africa in exchange for minerals. As a result of the Triangular Trade, the living conditions of Africans improved and the population increased significantly during the period.[Tinde R. Van Andel et al., “Local plant names reveal that enslaved Africans recognized substantial parts of the New World flora,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Science 111, no.50 (2014), doi:10.1073/pnas.1418836111.]
This study relies heavily on a review of existing research material. In order to get the most accurate results, this study will look at both primary and ...