Columbian Exchange and Plants (Majority of Dates are Estimated but Years are Fairly Accurate)

By puglisiaman
  • Oct 3, 1493

    Sugar Cane

    Originally grown for chewing in New Guinea, sugarcane is chock full of nutrients. It is also a natural sweetener. Sugarcane slowly spread to Europe, though it didn't grow very well there, and eventually found its way to Asia where it did much better as a crop. During his second voyage to the Americas, Christopher Columbus brought sugar cane to what is now the Dominican Republic. Today, sugar cane has grown rapidly as a successful crop all over north and south America.
  • Jul 2, 1510

    Maize

    Maize, is a cereal grain that was consumed by the first explorers on their voyages near the end of the 1400's. Maize, along with potatoes, was considered inferior to wheat. It was believed that wheat was the only substance that had to ability to actually be the body of Christ upon consumption. Nonetheless, this didn't stop explorers from consuming maize as a backup source of nutrition and bringing it back home with them. Maize is popular today due to its ability to grow in a many climates.
  • Feb 7, 1559

    Tobacco

    NEW WORLD TO OLD WORLD
    Tobacco is a popular product around the world and has been for many years. This is mainly due to the sensation one gets when inhaling tobacco leave smoke or being in other types of contact with tobacco. Following the orders of King Phillip II of Spain, Hernandez de Boncalo brought tobacco back from his excursions in the Americas. Since then, Spain began planting the crop and it has spread all throughout Europe and Asia not only for crop but for recreational use.
  • Sep 25, 1563

    Peanut

    NEW WORLD TO OLD WORLD
    Peanuts are native to Peru because of the dry climate there. Spanish Conquistadors witnessed these nuts being sold at market places in Tenochtitlan. These plants were also popular becuase they enriched the soil local to them with nitrogen. Peanuts were brought back to Europe and then spread all over Asia and Africa. Then, peanuts found their way to North America during the slave trade era.

  • Apples

    Apples
    OLD WORLD TO NEW WORLD
    Cider was a very popular beverage in England after the Norman conquest in 1066. New varieties of apples/seeds emerged from western and southern Europe. Settlers brought seeds from Europe and begin cultivating them. The main plan for these seeds was to grow apples that were to be used to make cider. This led to the growth of apple orchards in the colonies. https://www.history.com/news/hungry-history/all-about-apples

  • Potato

    NEW WORLD TO OLD WORLD
    Potatoes today are the 4th largest food crop in the world. This crop was found abundantly all throughout the Americas and was eaten by the natives. During the 16th century potatoes were introduced to Europe by the Spanish who had been to south America. Since the introduction of potatoes in the Old World, central and eastern European countries have become the highest "per capita" producers in the world (Wiki). China is now the world leader in potato export.