The Effect of Demographic and Environmental changes during By Keenan Bartlett and Jerry Chung

Diseases and Population Trends Diseases were transferred between Amerindians and Europeans during the Columbian Exchange The Amerindians were effected more by the transfer of diseases This was mainly caused by the fact that Europeans had more significant interaction with domesticated animals and other peoples compared the Amerindians The Amerindians did not build up sufficient immune systems to combat the diseases The near extermination of the Amerindian population led to the effectiveness of European colonization in the Americas

Diseases and Population Trends The Black Death did not first occur in the time period 1450 – 1750 but it had effects that continued into the time period The Black Death migrated to Europe on infected fleas and rats and wiped out about 1/3 of Europe’s population The remaining workers demanded higher wages Feudalism and serfdom came to an end because there was less manual labor Europeans began to question the Church, humanism emerged The Black Death was one of the main causes of the Renaissance

Diseases and Population Trends Some diseases transferred from the Americas Little Ice Age caused harsh winters Black Death killed 1/3 of the population Feudalism and Serfdom came to an end in most regions of Europe Laborers demanded higher pay Some people began to question religion Roman Catholic Church lost power Set the tone for the Renaissance and Enlightenment People in the Americas did not have close contact with many domesticated animals Americas was isolated from the rest of the world Columbian Exchange brought over diseases Amerindians died from enslavement and torture Amerindian Empires were easily conquered by the Europeans, specifically the Spanish Amerindians could be enslaved by European business owners without resistance The colonization of the Americas was effective because there was little military resistance and an abundance of free labor Demographic Changes in Europe Demographic Changes in the Americas CausesEffects

Diseases and Population Trends The sale of African slaves was allowed because African leaders profited from the slave Europeans needed African slaves to work on their plantations African civilizations put themselves behind the Europeans Millions of Africans died or were enslaved Plantations, mines and other European businesses in the Americas grew quickly Trade between the Americas and Europe was promoted Causes Effects Demographic Changes in Africa

Movement of Crops and Animals The Columbian Exchange provided new plants and animals for both the New World and the Old World All the staple crops of Europe were being grown in the Americas a short period of time after the beginning of the Columbian Exchange Maize and Potatoes revolutionized agriculture in Europe after their arrival from the Americas Because of the transfer of potatoes from New World, Ireland adapted and became dependent on the crop.

Movement of Crops and Animals European livestock had an immense effect on the Americas European animals thrived in America because they had few natural predators The transfer of horses to the Americas aided the conquistadors’ campaign against the various Amerindian empires The horse was also adapted by the Native Americans and tribes such as the Apache, Sioux and Blackfoot used them to hunt buffalo

The “Columbian Exchange”  Squash  Avocado  Peppers  Sweet Potatoes  Turkey  Pumpkin  Tobacco  Quinine  Cocoa  Pineapple  Cassava  POTATO  Peanut  TOMATO  Vanilla  MAIZE  Syphilis  Olive  COFFEE BEAN  Banana  Rice  Onion  Turnip  Honeybee  Barley  Grape  Peach  SUGAR CANE  Oats  Citrus Fruits  Pear  Wheat  HORSE  Cattle  Sheep  Pigs  Smallpox  Flu  Typhus  Measles  Malaria  Diptheria  Whooping Cough  Trinkets  Liquor  GUNS Courtesy of Mr. Graves

Movement of Crops and Animals The encounter of the New World There was a large demand for exotic foods in Europe Profitable staple crops were found in the Americas Europeans wanted to bring their own crops to plantations in the New World Potato Famine in Ireland African slaves were moved to the New World to work on plantations European agriculture became more diverse and profitable Deforestation from plantations (slash and burn farming) Increased European maritime trade The encounter of the New World Needed for transportation and conquest (horses) Used to work and provide food in American colonies and plantations Cattle and sheep destroyed vegetation Native Americans adapted to use Old World animals Movement of Crops Movement of Animals CausesEffects