The Columbian Exchange

Part I: A New World

Making a New World

The Americas were, of course, not new.

But the Columbian Encounter changed them so radically that they did indeed become a new and unrecognizable world to their inhabitants

A New World

“Before the Columbian Exchange, there were no oranges in Florida, no bananas in Ecuador, no paprika in Hungary, no tomatoes in Italy, no pineapples in Hawaii, no rubber trees in Africa, no cattle in Texas, no burros in Mexico, no chili peppers in Thailand and India, no cigarettes in France and no chocolate in Switzerland. Even the dandelion was brought to America by Europeans for use as an herb. “

I. Disease

Most diseases arise between man and domesticated animals

Few domesticated animals in the Americas--dogs and fowl raised for food

Few permanently inhabited population centers

Europeans were as baffled by the epidemics as Natives were; explained in terms of sin

Demographic Catastrophe

Mostly small pox and upper respiratory (common cold)

Decrease of between 90-95% in first hundred years

A calamity to native cultures that are passed on orally and experientially

Not intentional--disease often passed by trading goods or scouts in advance of actual encounter

This goes both ways: Europeans are infected with polio, hepatitis, encephalitis, and a virulent strain of syphilis

II. Environment: flora

Plantain--”White Man’s Footprint” from espadrilles; Jamestown settlers find “wild” peach trees

Intensively cultivated, disturbed and/or virgin land--particularly vulnerable to establishment of new species (now between 50-80%)

Medicine, building, food, hunting, seasons

III. Environment: fauna

Americas: empty ecological niches: large mammals and domesticate-able (herd) animals

(That’s why they didn’t have wheels--they did on children’s toys, but without beasts of burden no reason to make wagons)

New livestock

Fear in the face of horses, cattle, and pigs the Spaniards bring as food storage

Who, in the face of abandoned fields and without natural predators, go (you’ll pardon the expression) hog-wild, multiplying and replenishing all over the place.

IV. A Changing Landscape

Rooting animals displace 80% of species in great Pampas fields of Argentina; conversion from agriculture to ranching

Spain limits manufacturing in the Americas so as not to compete with home, but eventually allow tanneries for Bible-binding purposes.

The beginnings of a horse-based lifestyle

V. Changing Relationship to the Land

The Conquistadores had the right to exact tribute from the locals--encomienda

Abuses horrify Dominican friar Bartolome de las Casas, who wrote A Brief Account of the Destruction of the Indies to Charles V.

New Laws of 1542; end 1572.

“Weapons of the Weak”--about 5% in corruption--more, falls; less, revolt.

Mining in Bolivia

Europe has been in the grip of a serious currency shortage since the 14th century--now 2 hours to reach silver mines.

Discovery of Mt. Potosi in tandem with a more effective way of extracting silver means the amount of silver minted in Europe triples bet. 1500-1550, and then again 1550-1600.

The “Royal Fifth” was a 20% tax imposed on minerals and precious metals by the Spanish crown. In addition, 1/7 of local adult males required to work in mines.

The silver runs out c. 1600

Unfortunately this is not soon enough to prevent the “Price Revolution,” a doubling of prices across Europe that until that point had been stable since ancient times

The Black Legend

It is worth noting that the Spanish have long been the target of the “Black Legend” which argues that they were unusually cruel to the locals

In fact, more social interaction with locals; mestizos, etc.

What’s America good for?

Gold is “placer” gold and quickly exhausted.

Spices won’t grow--but sugar and tobacco will.

Both of these are labor intensive, but the locals prove unsuitable. For one thing, they keep dying.

For another, they know the land too well and simply disappear

Imported whites sicken (yellow fever and malaria) and disappear

Solution?

African slaves

West African gold, salt, and ivory merchants have been pushing slaves on European traders for years.

A way of controlling local populations (also used by Amerindians).

Now they have a use for these agriculturally-experienced populations.

British N. A. settlers are poorer and on-site, so they treat their slaves better and allow for reproduction. US African-American average date of arrival is 1775; Caucasian 1905If you go to a sugar plantation, 2 year life expectancy.

America’s greatest gifts to the Old Country are humble but enduring [to be continued...]