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The Colombian Exchange was the introduction of the Old World and the New World. This one event had changed the course of history irreversibly.

Disease: The people of the Old and New World had not made contact before Colombus arrived. Due to this, any diseases brought by the Europeans were far more deadly to the natives. This would become a major factor as to why they were defeated and taken over.

Animals and Food: Crops and livestock were shared between the two hemispheres. Mesoamericans consumed little meat before the exchange. Pigs and cows were introduced which soon became staples in Mexican food. Wheat and grapes were American staples which arrived during the Columbian Exchange. Horses were brought over to the Americas and had transformed the culture of Natives living in the plains. They could now hunt buffalo much quicker, giving them a surplus of food. Art and spirituality were given much more time to be perused. However, warfare and competition saw a rise. European explorers brought maize, potatoes, tomatoes, beans, peppers, and cacao back to their home countries. Potatoes in particular were widely popular to the point that some thought they were native to regions like Ireland. Massive population growth was seen as a result of the newly brought crops.

Cash Crops and Forced Labor: Africans were brought over to the Americas in order to farm cash crops, however, Africans would bring okra and rice with them. The tropical climate and large expanse of land of Brazil was perfect for sugar cane cultivation. Due to the Natives being wiped out by disease, Africans were imported to act as workers. Africans were captured and sold at an increased number due to the profits gained with sugar farming. This number had increased to such an extent that most of the population in Brazil were descended from Africans. Around 90% of all slaves were sent to the Caribbean and South America. Most deaths were a result of working conditions, poor nutrition, not having a shelter, and the intense heat with disease. The production of sugarcane was so quick that plantations were referred to as engines and their conditions so brutal that 5-10% of slaves died per year. Spaniards had noted the success of Portugal and returned to the Caribbean to cultivate cash crops. Cash crops were sold rather than eaten and had outgrown silver as the most profitable venture for Europeans.

African Presence in the Americas: Some African culture was retained despite being taken captive. Their languages, however, were not saved except for a few. Africans could not communicate of ships or on land due to coming from completely different groups. This had resulted in many African languages being lost in one generation. Some had managed to combine the colonizers language and their own to create languages known as creole. This language dominated the Caribbean Islands whereas in North America few examples exist. African music was brought over to the Americas. It would influence future styles of music such as gospel, blues, jazz, rock and roll, hip-hop, rap, samba, reggae, and country music. Musical traditions were maintained because they were used to as a means of survival to endure long workdays, communicate with others, and plan escapes. European Christian music was blended with their own religious songs creating Negro spirituals. An instrument known as the banjo was invented by enslaved people, based on stringed instruments in West Africa. The knowledge to prepare foods like gumbo was also brought over and became very popular.

The Columbian Exchange was the catalyst for most events in the future. The Industrial Revolution, Globalization, etc. were not possible without the first discovery and trade to the New World.

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Spaniards born in Spain who lived in the colonies of the Spanish Empire.

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The exclusive possession or control of the supply of or trade in a commodity or service.

A company or group having exclusive control over a commodity or service.

A commodity or service in the exclusive control of a company or group.

The exclusive possession, control, or exercise of something.

A board game in which players engage in simulated property and financial dealings using imitation money. It was invented in the US and introduced in 1933 by Charles Darrow; a forerunner of the game had been patented on 5 January 1904 as ‘The Landlord's Game’ by Elizabeth J. Magie

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A man of mixed race, especially one having Spanish and indigenous descent.

Refers to any person of mixed blood.

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An instrument formerly used to make astronomical measurements, typically of the altitudes of celestial bodies, and in navigation for calculating latitude, before the development of the sextant. In its basic form (known from classical times), it consists of a disk with the edge marked in degrees and a pivoted pointer.

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Belief in the benefits of profitable trading; commercialism.

The economic theory that trade generates wealth and is stimulated by the accumulation of profitable balances, which a government should encourage by means of protectionism.

Economic policy that aims to increase a nation's wealth and power by increasing exports and decreasing imports.

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The establishment of Maritime Empires was driven by political, religious, and economic rivalries. Silver and gold were frequently exchanged for silk and spices.

State-Building and Empire Expansion: European exploration was the foundation for maritime empires. They would claim lands and establish empires in explored areas. Regions in West and East Africa were targets for European conquest. The Portuguese were the first to establish trading posts along African coasts with the help of local rulers. The local rulers would trade slaves for gunpowder and cannons. Many African city-states grew wealthy by selling slaves to Europeans. In central West Africa, the Portuguese made inroads to the Kongo and Benin kingdoms. These kingdoms have artwork which show signs of European influence. Benin artisans would add images of European intruders to carvings and sculptures. The expansion of maritime trading networks would help the growth of some city-states. This included the Asante Empire and the Kingdom of the Kongo. Their influence grew as they continued to participate in trade. The Portuguese explorer Vasco de Gama invaded East Africa, taking over the Swahili city states. This was done through the use of heavily armed ships and fortresses. The region as a whole declined steeply due to the takeover. Japan was restricting its trade networks as Europeans expanded theirs. The first Portuguese and Dutch traders were tolerated, as well as missionaries. The missionaries managed to convert thousands of Japanese to Christianity. However, many tore down Buddhist shrines. As a result, Japan's government banned Christian worship services. Japan would take additional steps to persecute Christians and stop foreigner influence throughout the next 40 years. The government expelled most foreigners, banned most of the foreigners' books, and outlawed Japanese travel across the sea by the 1630s. Japan would stay partially isolated for the next 200 years. Some Dutch traders were allowed to live on a small island near Nagasaki, however, this was to be in almost total seclusion. Trade with China was carried out by regional lords, far from the city, with easy access to Korea, Taiwan, and Okinawa via the sea. Europeans and Americans would return to Japan during the mid 19th century despite the belief that they were through with these "uncouth" people (Europeans and Americans). China also attempted to restrict trade to limit outside influence. They would prohibit private foreign trade, destroyed dockyards, limited the size of buildable ships, and started to reconstruct the Wall of China. This was all a part of a plan to undo the influence of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty which previously ruled over China. The importance of Confucianism was reenforced and the traditional exam system was given new life. The limits on trade were reversed, so China once again took on its role in global trade. The expansion of empires was shaped by economic, political, and religious motives. France and Britain, as well as their allies, competed for power on five continents during the Seven Years War. Britain had won the war, pushing out France from India. The Portuguese had remained before being driven out as well. British trading forts in India were fairly unremarkable compared to other forts. The East India company would establish these forts on the coasts to focus only on profit through trade. However, the EIC was limited in power by the Mughal Empire and so controlled little land. Despite this the EIC started to expand. The tensions between Muslims and Hindus gave it the perfect opportunity to increase its political power. Sepoys would allow the company to move inland and spread its influence. Much of the continent was controlled through political and military means. Trading posts were also set up in West Africa but limited by the Asante Empire. The trading posts in India, Africa, and beyond had created a path for globalization. Each post was like a station, multiple stations connecting together for trade all across the world. The Aztec Empire had ruled over Mexico, and the Inca Empire had ruled over South America before the Europeans had arrived. As the Europeans arrived, their diseases had spread killing most natives they had made contact with. Both empires would collapse when the Europeans attacked. Cortes's forces overthrew the Aztecs, with the help of previously Aztec controlled groups, and began the colony of New Spain. The Aztec treasures were then melted down into pure gold and sent back to Spain. Tenochtitlan was destroyed, Mexico City was built in its place. A similar takeover would occur in the Andes. The leader was killed and much of the gold was taken. The Treaty of Tordesillas divided the Americas between Spain and Portugal. The arrangement would leave Brazil under Portugals control, the rest was Spains to conquer. Spain would not only establish colonies in Meso and South America, but also North of what is now Mexico. The east coast of Florida had a fort established on it by an explorer. This became the oldest continuos settlement. North America was not fully claimed due to French, British, and Dutch settlements. France and Britain would fight for control of North America. British settlers would form ties with powerful Iroquois in conflict with the French. The British wanted the Iroquois to whittle down the French trade interest. The Iroquois, however, had seen that the British were a much larger threat than the French. In a surprising turn, the Iroquois and French signed the Great Peace of Montreal in 1701. In the Seven Year War the British drove out France from Canada. This part of the war is sometimes called the French and Indian War.

These Maritime empires would fuel the Industrial Revolution which came far later in time. Many people were taken over, with their cultures and religions destroyed. However, all would eventually fight back, becoming their own independent countries.

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Christopher Columbus was the "first" to find the Americas. He thought it to be India. Naming the people he found "Indians". Despite the friendly nature of the natives, many were killed and taken as slaves. The finding of the Americas by Christopher Columbus was the catalyst for the Columbian Exchange and many other events.

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Hernan Cortes would first arrive in Meso and South America. The contact between the Spaniards and natives would spread smallpox and other diseases. This led to most of the natives dying with little to no conflict. Cortes, with the help of natives, overthrew the Aztecs. After, he established the colony of New Spain. The treasures he and his men found were melted down into pure gold and sent back to Spain.

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Francisco Pizarro landed in South America. He would go to the Andes mountains. There, he found the Inca. Of course, he attacked the Inca and captured their leader. Pizarro offered to release the leader, Atahualpa, if the Inca filled an entire room with gold. The Inca had fulfilled this request; however, Atahualpa was later killed either way. The Inca would be fully taken over in the following years.

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Environment: These two regions are the main regions affected by the Columbian Exchange. Many of the crops and resources brought to the new world were from South and Meso America. Diseases from the Old World were brought over unknowingly as well as animals which spread these diseases further. Most natives near the region either died from the disease or from the invading Spaniards.

Social: The Spaniards had uprooted the religion and culture of the natives that they had captured. The social structure was turned into a caste system. All people were ordered to a certain caste with the Spaniards on top. The African slaves used to farm the land were placed at the bottom. Higher taxes and tributes were given to them despite rarely being able to pay them.

Political: The Peninsulares were at the top of the caste system: however, they still were under the control of Spain. Even with the vast ocean in-between them the Spanish monarchy held complete control over the colony. A maritime empire was established in which cash crops were grown. Using slaves as a workforce many plantations worked so quickly, they were referred to as engines. Sugar became a more profitable than silver. A revolt occurred called the Pueblo Revolt. Two indigenous groups fought against the colonizers, attempting to force religious conversion. 400 Spaniards were killed, and churches destroyed. The area was reconquered years later.

Economic: Cash crops were grown in the Americas specifically sugarcane, and tobacco. Silver was mined within Mexico and Peru. 3 main systems were used to gain money and control the people. The encomienda, hacienda, and mit'a system were all forms of coerced labor. The encomienda and hacienda system were mainly used to farmland. The mit'a system was used to force the natives into mining silver.

Cultural: The native most of their culture when the Spaniards arrived. Their books were burned under the order of conquistadors. The Spaniards and Portuguese would replace this loss with their own language and religion. The attempts of converting the natives to Christianity worked so well that most Latin Americans nowadays are still Christians. Due to Africans being brought to the Americas many were unable to save their culture and language. However, they combined parts of their language with colonizers language to create new languages all known as creole.

Technology: Certain technology like alphabetic writing and firearms made their way to the Americas. Alphabetic writing improved communication. Firearms improved hunting methods but made warfare much more deadly. Galleons, heavily armed ships, were used to transport mined silver from Mexico all the way to East Asia. The use of mercury to separate silver from its ore made this process more efficient and profitable.