The Columbian Exchange

            "The people began to die very fast, and many in a short space". Over 80% of the natives living in South and North America died from diseases that the Europeans brought with them. diseases such as measles, smallpox, whooping cough, yellow fever, and influenza. The New World was like a "virgin soul" because they had no immunity to these diseases, (Changes Brought About). Although these diseases were common in children in Europe, death occurred in as many as one-third to one-half of the cases. In the Native Indian deaths were more common and traveled throughout the entire population, (The Columbian Exchange). In exchange for the many epidemics that the Natives received, the Europeans were given venereal syphilis. Today our society still suffers from one of the most common diseases given to the Americas, the common cold.
             During the Columbian Exchange many animals and insects were introduced to the Americas. Animals such as horses, pigs, chickens, dogs, sheep, goats, cattle, and rats. Although the rats helped to spread diseases thought out the Americas to the Natives, horses became part of Native Indian communities. The Americas also got insects such as the Asian cockroach, killer bees and the Japanese beetle. The Europeans were introduced to buffalo and rattlesnakes. Although the introduction of these animals lead to having a bigger food supply, the Natives were also faced with the challenge of sharing their livestock with the Europeans, (The Columbian Exchange).
             The exchange of plants and crops were also important in the Columbian Exchange. Americas food crops spread through out Europe and became very important, even until this day to European foods. Potatoes, maize (corn) and tomatoes helped populations grow. The Old World had different ideas about crops brought from the New World, for example, potatoes were thought to be aphrodisiacs and tomatoes were thought to be poisonous. Today Europe raises more tomatoes than any other continent.