With the discovery, exploration and colonization of America and the exploitation of slavery from Africa, there was a transfer of food and disease previously unknown in human history.  This explores some of the transfers.

Many exchanges took place between the Eastern and Western hemispheres as a result of Columbus' voyages.  

Food from Europe

The Europeans grew important cash crops -- cotton, rubber, and sugar cane -- in the Americas.  (But where were they from?)  They established vast plantations worked by Indians and by imported African slaves.  Europeans provided many foods to America that became widespread, including:

• barley
• broad bean
• cattle
• chickpea
• goats
• honey bees
• horses
• pigs
• rice
• sheep
• sugarcane
• wheat

Food from Asia

Many foods which are common worldwide today began in Asia.  These include:

• banana
• lemon
• lime
• orange
• rice

Food from Africa

Many foods which are common worldwide today began in Africa.  These include:

• breadfruit
• coconut
• coffee
• cowpea
• yam

Food from America

The Americas also provided many foods that became popular throughout the world.  These foods included:

• avocado
• chewing gum
• cassava
• cayenne (red pepper or chili pepper or hot pepper)
• chocolate
• corn (maize)
• French bean
• green pepper 
• groundnut
• lima bean
• manioc
• papaya
• paprika
• peanut
• pineapple
• quinine
• rubber
• sweet potato
• tapioca
• tobacco
• tomato
• turkey
• vanilla
• white potato

Diseases from Europe to America

Europeans brought many deadly diseases to America.  The previous separation of the Native American peoples from those of Europe and Asia meant that the Native Americans had no resistance to these diseases, including:

• malaria
• measles
• smallpox
• tetanus
• typhus

Diseases from America to Europe

Disease also migrated from America to Europe, including:

• syphilis

Words from America to Europe

Many words were taken from Native American languages into English and other European languages, including:

• hammock

Next Essay >>