What effect did the Age of Discovery & expansion have on the Americas, Africa, & Asia?

SSWH 10 bDefine the Columbian Exchange and its global economic and cultural impact.

Columbian Exchange : 1500s – 1700s

Global transfer of foods, plants, & animals during the colonization of the Americas

Ships from the Americas brought back a wide array of items to Europe, Asia, & Africa

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Most Important Items: corn & potatoes – these foods became a steady part of the diets around the world (helped boost the world’s population)

Europeans sent goods to the Americas: livestock – horses, cattle, sheep, & pigs

Foods from Asia & Africa

Tragic impact: Native Americans – millions died from diseases brought by colonist

Global Economic Impact Establishment of colonies

influenced the European nations wealth

Capitalism: an economic system based on private ownership & investment of resources

Individuals were profiting from their investments & businesses across Europe flourished

Inflation occurred because an increase of money & the supply of goods went down but prices go up

Joint Stock Corporation: investors buying shares in a company: colonization (Jamestown)

Mercantilism: an economic policy under which nations sought to increase their wealth & power by obtaining large amounts of gold & silver – by selling more goods than they bought

Nation’s goal was to become self-sufficient, not depend on other countries for goods

Cultural ImpactColonies: merchants grew in wealth & socially, colonies grew but had no power

Europe: few grew socially (only investors), majority remained poor

P-M-KThink about he Columbian

Exchange

Plus—name 1 benefit Minus—name 1 negative result Knowledge—name something that

interested you

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