Columbian Exchange

The Columbian Exchange
The Columbian Exchange is a global exchange of goods and ideas between the Old World, Europe, Asia and Africa. When Columbus first discovered America, Spain wanted to set up colonies. Columbus found some people that he named “Indians.” Their colonies started to trade with each other starting the Columbian Exchange. Many countries were involved in this trade, including China, Africa and Italy. This exchange of new ideas, traditions, food, religion and diet changed cultures everywhere.
The Native Americans gave and received many items. They were important politically, societally, and economically in many ways. One of the most important items that the Indians received was horses. Before horses, Indians had no way of carrying heavy loads from place to place. Valuable plants and animals crossed the ocean, making survival much easier for poor people around the world. Europe, Africa, and Asia received tomatoes, chocolate, potatoes, corn, green beans, peanuts, and turkey from the Americas. America in turn received cattle, pigs, sheep, chickens, and coffee from Europe, Africa, and Asia. Ideas also flowed between the continents; in particular, some Europeans began to denounce slavery and colonialism when they saw how destructive both were in the Americas. They believed that pre-Columbian Native American societies had value and were in some ways superior to European society. Questioning the destruction that took place in the Americas helped bring about the Enlightenment and the idea that all peoples can and must live in peace and equality.
Politically equality was important to the Native Americans. Although, it was vulnerable because of the European Nation State. When the Europeans encountered the Indians they didn't see a church or an organized religion, they assumed that the Indians were atheists, but they found out that the Indian religious system was deeply complex and it was steeped in every aspect of Indian life. Hunters "relied on...