The Columbian Exchange
The 1992 commemoration of the first trans-Atlantic voyage of Chtristopher Columbus prompted numerous controversies. Where some saw in Columbus a heroic navigator, others considered him the harbinger of
European domination of the world. Where some lauded his discovery of America, others saw little to praise and noted that for those who lived in North
or South America at the time, Columbus did not "discover" anything.
Regardless of whether anyone takes a positive or negative view of Columbus, two facts
about his explorations cannot be denied. First, they changed
the map of the world: from 1492 ever after, people have had a much more
accurate idea of what lies on the eastern and western boundaries of the
Atlantic Ocean.
A second fact about Columbus is no less significant: his voyages helped to set in motion
patterns of cultural diffusion that have continued from 1492 onwards,
such diffusion usually being termed the Columbian Exchange. As a result of the Exchange, many products spread from the Eastern to the Western Hemispere, among them the following :
sugar
tea
coffee
Likewise, many products spread from the Western to the Eastern Hemispere, among them the following :
tobacco
potatoes
chocolate
corn
tomatoes
The diffusion of these products has not only transformed the eating habits of most of the world's population but has also affected the lives of people in many other ways. For example, the more available tea and coffee became, the greater the demand grew for sugar, which in turn led to the establishment of sugar colonies in the Caribbean and elsewhere.
As exploration, trade, and colonization spread across the globe, linguistic diffusion was a concomitant of other forms of cultural diffusion. Spanish, Portuguese, French, Dutch, and English were all transported overseas, and most of them must now be considered global languages.
This Exploration continues with a closer look at how one plant in particular has affected the languages and lives of people in places as far apart as America, Africa, and Russia.
To continue with the Exploration, press here.