Colombian Exchange

The travel of Europeans to the Americas in the 15th century began a process that was to dramatically change agriculture and humanity around the world.  The Colombian Exchange was a term coined by Alfred W. Crosby in 1972 to describe this dramatic meeting of two biotas that have been separate since the breakup of Gondwana. The Colombian Exchange in pictures
Many major crops over between continents including wheat and peas from Eurasia and maize and Potato from the Americas. There is a short fun quiz on the agricultural aspects of this exchange at Sporcle http://m.sporcle.com/games/lupin/columbian_exchange that will help you remember some of the species that moved.  It doesn’t mention the movement of some serious diseases from the Americas to Europe!

 

About Alastair Culham

A professional botanist and biologist with an interest in promoting biological knowledge and awareness to all.
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