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Period: Jan 1, 1492 to Jan 1, 1540
Beginning of Animal Exchanges
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Jan 1, 1493
Sheep
Sheep first came to the New World on the ships of Columbus' second voyage. They were brought because they are a good source of food and their wool is useful. Eventually, they became a staple of food for the Native populations in America. In Peru, sheep and lamas made a large wool industry and Argentina and Chile began herding sheep for food and wool by 1571. Their ability to be a source of food and industry is their biggest impact.
Source: http://ageofex.marinersmuseum.org/?type=webpage&id=46 -
Jan 1, 1500
Turkeys
When European travelers first came to the Americas they found many new species that they have never seen before. They took many of these plants and animals back to Europe with them. One of the animals that the explorers brought back were turkeys. As a result, turkeys traveled from the Americas to the Old World.Turkeys eventually became a source of food for both Americans and Europeans this is their biggest impact.
Source: https://classroom.google.com/c/MTkyMDkxMzgyMlpa -
Period: Jan 1, 1500 to
Colombian Exchange: Animal Exchanges
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Jan 1, 1539
Pigs
Hernando de Soto reached the Americas in 1539 and he brought 13 pigs on his ship from the Old World to the New World. He brought them to use them as a source of food on the long trip overseas. However, these revolutionized life in the New World by preventing people from starving. This is due to the fact that pigs breed extremely quickly and are incredible tasty. The pig's greatest impact is that they gave Americans a steady source of food.
Source: https://classroom.google.com/c/MTkyMDkxMzgyMlpa -
Jan 1, 1540
Rabbits
Rabbits also came to the New World from the Old World on ships and were brought along as a food source. Due to their high fertility rate and lack of predators rabbits overran the Americas. This had a negative effect on farming because rabbits are pests and ran around eating crops (and basically every other plant that they could find starting rabbit hunting. The rabbit biggest impact is their ability to be used a source of food.
Source: http://ageofex.marinersmuseum.org/?type=webpage&id=46 -
Jan 1, 1550
Cattle
When European explorers came to America, they had brought animals on their ships for food. When they reached America, they took these animals off of their ships. Some of these animals were cattle and this is how cattle came from Afro-Eurasia to the Americas. Cattle took to the Americas very well and thrived there. Their meat and milk eventually became a staple of many American diets--including ours today making this their biggest impact.
Source: https://classroom.google.com/c/MTkyMDkxMzgyMlpa -
Jan 1, 1570
Chickens
Chickens traveled from the Old World to the New World as well. They were brought on ships by European explorers as a food source on their ships. Chickens revolutionized life in the New World by giving the Americans a steady source of food. This helped offset the population decrease that came from "the great dying". As a result, chicken's greatest impact was being a steady source of food--providning both milk and eggs for people.
Source: https://classroom.google.com/c/MTkyMDkxMzgyMlpa -
Guinea Pigs
The guinea pig is originally native to South America. The Incas used guinea pigs for food and sacrifices and kept them as pets. This animal was brought to the Old World by Spanish Conquistadors. Today, there are no longer any wild guinea pigs (they were all hunted and forced into captivity) and they are still used as pets and as a source of food along with subjects of animal testing which is their biggest impact.
Source: http://www.livescience.com/50658-guinea-pig-facts.html -
Horses
Horses traveled from the New World to the Old World on ships. They were brought to the Americas by explorers. Horses became a part of the stereotypical culture of regions in the Americas. Their biggest impact was that they revolutionized life in the Americas because Americans now they had animals that were capable of lifting heavy loads during long distance travel which revolutionized both transportation and trade in the New World.
Source: https://classroom.google.com/c/MTkyMDkxMzgyMlpa -
Period: to
End of Animal Exchanges