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Castillo de San Marcos National MonumentColumbus' landfall in the
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Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
Columbian Exchange

A Profound Event

Imagine a world where Florida has no oranges, there are no bananas in Ecuador, no paprika in Hungary, no zucchini or tomatoes in Italy, Ireland has never heard of the potato, there are no pineapples in Hawaii or rubber trees in Africa, no cattle in Texas, no burros in Mexico, no chile peppers in Thailand, no cigarettes in France and no chocolate in Switzerland, not even dandelions growing in your yard. This was the world before Columbus' voyages to the Americas.

 

Globalization

The voyages of the early colonial explorers in a sense bridged the oceans. Once isolated continents were brought into contact with each other sharing not only information and culture but biological diversity as well. It is an ongoing process even today, the effects of which we are only beginning to understand. Columbus could never have dreamed how much his "discovery" would change the world.

The introduction of European plants, animals, culture and microbiology totally transformed the Americas. Few traces of what Pre-Columbian life was like exist so complete was this alteration. What is even more amazing is the impact that the New World would have on the Old. Indigenous life, especially native food plants would completely change cultural norms throughout the planet.

The results of this biological exchange still impact us today. The world-wide introduction of non-native species has altered physical and cultural landscapes and altered the world's biodiversity.

 

The Columbian Biological Exchange

Forms of Biological Life Going From:

 

 

Old World to New World:

New World to Old World:

Diseases:

Smallpox
Measles

Diptheria
Chicken Pox
Malaria
Yellow Fever
Influenza

Syphilis

Animals:

Horses
Cattle
Pigs
Sheep
Goats
Chickens

Turkeys
Llamas
Alpacas
Guinea Pigs

Plants:

Rice
Wheat
Barley
Oats
Coffee
Sugarcane
Bananas
Melons
Olives
Dandelions
Daisies
Clover
Ragweed
Kentucky Bluegrass

Corn (Maize)
Potatoes (White & Sweet Varieties)
Beans (Snap, Kidney, &
LimaVarieties)
Tobacco
Peanuts
Squash
Peppers
Tomatoes
Pumpkins
Pineapples
Cacao (Source of Chocolate)
Chicle (Source of Chewing Gum)
Papayas
Manioc (Tapioca)
Guavas
Avocados

 
Castillo casemate, or room, which was primarily used for storage.  

Did You Know?
The Castillo de San Marcos is built with the unique limestone, "coquina". Made of many tiny shell fragments and sand lightly bound together with calcite, it has survived cannon balls and hurricanes but is very fragile to human contact. Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, Florida

Last Updated: February 18, 2009 at 13:45 EST