The Columbian Exchange
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- A. Plants
- - horses in the Americas
- -- Assessing the historical significance of disease vis-à-vis other factors
- III. Conclusion: A. Hybrid Landscapes
The Columbian ExchangeI. Introduction: A. What was the Columbian Exchange? -Global trade routes, before and after 1492 -intercontinental movement of plants, animals, and microbes, both intentional and unintentional
-recent influential interpretations -Alfred Crosby, Ecological Imperialism: The Biological Expansion of Europe, 900-1900 (1986) -Jared Diamond, Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies (1999). II. What got exchanged, what happened and who benefited?-- some specifics A. Plants—useful exchanges in both directions;--role of corn, potatoes in European/Asian/ and African societies especially important --many unintentional exchangesB. Animals-sheep (ex. Valle del Mezquital): “ecological release”- horses in the Americas- benefits and costs for Native Americans -changing balance of power among groups (Comanche, Sioux benefit) C. Disease-Old World—more infectious disease -smallpox most important -introduced 1518 in Hispaniola; -1518-1528: first smallpox pandemic in New World
-no “aquired immunity” (smallpox) -other stressors -Natives had no practical experience with these diseases and how to cure them -estimating Native American mortality -- Assessing the historical significance of disease vis-à-vis other factors—another example: bubonic plague in Europe--population recovery in this casethe limits of environmental/biological factors as an explanation for what happened in the Americas--also need to consider: (1) European policies and practices; (2) Native American responses --Factors (in addition to disease) contributing to the decline of Native populations in North America:
2. Violent colonial policies including: forced labor, enslavement, forced relocation 3. Massive immigration of European settlers, 17-19th centuries 4. Loss of subsistence resources to theft and competition (from colonists, displaced tribes) III. Conclusion:A. Hybrid LandscapesB. “Environmental determinism” and its limits as an historical explanation (single- versus multi-causal explanations)Directory: lnash -> 221 221 -> Midterm prep sheet 221 -> Globalization--north America and the Fur Trade, ca. 1550-1800s 221 -> Scientific Conservation: Progressivism 221 -> I. When and why did petrochemicals emerge? 221 -> I. Organic Pesticides and ddt 221 -> Gardens Not Ghettos: The Shaping of Yesler Terrace’s Community Gardens Share with your friends:
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