The Early Modern Period, c. 1450 to c. 1750: Content Summary 4.2: Columbian Exchange and Atlantic Slavery

The development of Atlantic trade and migration, and the accompanying biological exchanges, had demographic and environmental consequences in both the Americas and Afro-Eurasia. (4.2.A)

The development of Atlantic trade and migration, and the accompanying biological exchanges, had demographic and environmental consequences in both the Americas and Afro-Eurasia. (4.2.A)

In Eurasia, plants from the Americas, such as corn and the potato, contributed to population growth and increased feed for livestock. (4.2.A)

In Africa, corn in particular facilitated greater food security and deforestation. (4.2.A)

In the Americas, Afro-Eurasian viruses such as smallpox, measles, and yellow fever devastated local populations, which lacked immunity to these diseases. (4.2.A)

Eurasian domesticated animals (notably pigs, sheep, cattle, and horses) significantly impacted the environment of the Americas. (4.2.A)

Eurasian domesticated animals (notably pigs, sheep, cattle, and horses) significantly impacted the environment of the Americas. (4.2.A)

Foraging by these animals compacted the soil and eradicated indigenous plants and grasses. (4.2.A)

Foraging by these animals compacted the soil and eradicated indigenous plants and grasses. (4.2.A)

Foraging by these animals compacted the soil and eradicated indigenous plants and grasses. (4.2.A)

Foraging by these animals compacted the soil and eradicated indigenous plants and grasses. (4.2.A)

The eventual Amerindian adaptation to the presence of Eurasian livestock led to the development of the first pastoral and equestrian hunting and gathering communities in the Americas. (4.2.A)

The eventual Amerindian adaptation to the presence of Eurasian livestock led to the development of the first pastoral and equestrian hunting and gathering communities in the Americas. (4.2.A)

The eventual Amerindian adaptation to the presence of Eurasian livestock led to the development of the first pastoral and equestrian hunting and gathering communities in the Americas. (4.2.A)

In addition to profitable mining ventures, Spain, as well as Portugal, established plantations in the Americas. (4.2.B)

As disease decimated Amerindians, and rising living standards in Europe made it difficult for American colonies to attract indentured servants, mines and plantations became increasingly dependent on enslaved Africans for labor. (4.2.C)

As disease decimated Amerindians, and rising living standards in Europe made it difficult for American colonies to attract indentured servants, mines and plantations became increasingly dependent on enslaved Africans for labor. (4.2.C)

Africans were skilled agriculturalists and relatively resistant to disease compared to the indigenous Amerindian population. (4.2.C)

As enslaved Africans supplanted Amerindian laborers, Europeans exploited race as a means to lower the cost of supervision in discerning between free and slave labor. (4.2.C)

As enslaved Africans supplanted Amerindian laborers, Europeans exploited race as a means to lower the cost of supervision in discerning between free and slave labor. (4.2.C)

Laws classified enslaved people and their children as chattel property. (4.2.C)

Sophisticated African states and kingdoms operated as intermediaries in the transatlantic slave trade. (4.2.C)

These kingdoms exchanged prisoners of war and enslaved people with European traders to acquire goods such as European weapons and Indian cotton textiles. (4.2.C)

These kingdoms exchanged prisoners of war and enslaved people with European traders to acquire goods such as European weapons and Indian cotton textiles. (4.2.C)

Trade was conducted on African terms, as fluctuations in the volume of the transatlantic slave trade were determined more by African supply than European demand. (4.2.C)