Studyfin
✨ Sign up free
Hi there! I am Studyfin, your history tutor. Today we will explore how new trade routes changed our world forever!
From 1450 to 1750, European nations began exploring the globe. They wanted to find direct sea routes to Asia to trade for valuable spices and silks.
We can analyze three main causes for this European expansion: Gold, Glory, and God. Nations wanted wealth from trade, personal and national fame, and to spread their religious beliefs.
This expansion created the Columbian Exchange, which was the movement of plants, animals, and diseases between the Eastern and Western Hemispheres.
The impact was massive. New crops like potatoes boosted Europe's population, while European diseases devastated Native American communities.
Analyze how the introduction of the potato from the Americas impacted European society.
- Identify the source and destination: The potato came from the Americas (Western Hemisphere) and was brought to Europe (Eastern Hemisphere) through the Columbian Exchange.
- Examine the crop's characteristics: Potatoes are easy to grow in poor soil, yield a lot of food per acre, and are highly nutritious.
- Analyze the direct effect: European farmers grew potatoes to feed their families, which significantly reduced starvation and improved general health.
- Determine the long-term impact: A steady food supply led to a massive population boom in Europe, which later helped fuel the Industrial Revolution.
