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Period: Jan 1, 1400 to
Plants
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Jan 1, 1492
Corn (Maize) - New to Old
When Columbus first sailed out to the Americas he saw the Native Americans eating corn. The Native Americans helped the first settlers and gave them corn to eat since they were starving. Corn was taken to Europe on the trip back and it started to grow all over the world. Most animals are fed by corn. Source: http://www.campsilos.org/mod3/students/c_history.shtml -
Jan 1, 1520
Wheat - Old to New
Wheat was introduced to Mexico by the Spaniards. Wheat was east to grow and its cultivation started to increase. When this wheat was traded to the New World it was used for food. Humans ate wheat but it was also a food source for animals as well. Source: http://archive.gramene.org/species/triticum/wheat_intro.html -
Jan 1, 1520
Vanilla - New to Old
Vanilla was introduced by the Spaniards who sailed back from the Americas. At first only the rich and famous used it. Many people enjoyed the flavor and taste of the vanilla beans when they ate them. Then around 1602 all people started to use vanilla. They even used it as a flavor to add to some foods. Source: http://www.vanillaqueen.com/facts-about-vanilla/ -
Jan 1, 1544
Tomatoes - New to Old
Tomatoes were one of the major crops that were traded. At first when Europeans saw this plant they thought it was poisonous because of it bright color. But then they saw the Aztecs eating them and took some back to Europe. Many people didn't start liking it till around the 18th century. Now tomatoes are one of the main ingredients used in Italian food. Source: http://quatr.us/food/tomatoes.htm -
Jan 1, 1560
Tobacco - New to Old
Native Americans were some of the first people to smoke. When Columbus sailed back he decided to take some of these seeds with him. Many people started making cigarettes and smoking them. This caused many people to become addicted and many people died because of smoking. Source: http://staff.esuhsd.org/balochie/studentprojects/newworldfoods/ -
Potatoes - New to Old
Potatoes were introduced to Europe around 1589. Potatoes had a big effect in Ireland. Since potatoes can grow in almost any type of soil, the Irish based their diet on them. This increased populations and fed many people. But then the potato famine happened and caused many people to die. Source: https://www.potatogoodness.com/potato-fun-facts-history/ -
Sugarcane - Old to New
Sugarcane was introduced to the Americas by European settlers. Sugarcane was hard to grow at first but then its productions started to boost. This caused a conflict because many other countries were competing against each other on who could grow the most sugarcane. Source: http://www.alcademics.com/2011/09/sugar-in-early-american-history.html -
Rice - Old to New
Rice was first domesticated and grown in Africa but then it started to spread around the world. When rice was brought to the Americas people started to include it in many of their diets and grow it. Many slaves were brought to the Americas in order to grow these rice crops and care for them. But when these slaves came from Europe they carried many diseases and a lot of people died because of this. Source: http://ricepedia.org/culture/history-of-rice-cultivation -
Conclusion
Through the Colombian Exchange many different things were traded all over the world. Although this timeline only includes the different plants traded many other things like animals, diseases, and even people were traded. Through the exchange of plants it caused diversity around the globe.