The Columbian Exchange (1492-1800): How New World Crops Changed the Globe

By Nancy Gallagher

The Columbian Exchange (1492-1800): How New World Crops Changed the Globe by Nancy Gallagher

The discovery of the Americas ignited one of the most transformative events in human history: the Columbian Exchange. This sweeping global phenomenon reshaped agriculture, economies, societies, and environments, with consequences still felt today. In The Columbian Exchange (1492-1800), Nancy Gallagher explores how the transfer of crops like maize, potatoes, cassava, and tomatoes revolutionized food systems, spurred unprecedented population growth, and altered the course of civilizations across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

Blending vivid historical narrative with rigorous research, Gallagher examines the complex interplay between ecological, economic, and cultural forces unleashed by this exchange. Readers will discover how New World crops fueled the rise of empires, shaped global trade networks, and transformed culinary traditions worldwide. At the same time, the book does not shy away from the darker legacy of the Exchange: the devastating spread of Old World diseases, the collapse of indigenous populations, and the rise of the transatlantic slave trade.

From the rich agricultural systems of the pre-Columbian Americas to the enduring effects on modern globalization, The Columbian Exchange (1492-1800) offers an essential, nuanced understanding of one of history's most consequential periods. Through this lens, Gallagher invites readers to reflect on the continuing relevance of the Columbian Exchange in today's interconnected world.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0F6NVQJXX
• ISBN13: 9798281691598
• Release Date: April 2025
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 210 Pages
• Weight: 0.63 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.0" x 9.0"