Demographic and Environmental Changes in the Americas and Africa from 1492 to 1750

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In 1492, the Spanish Crown funded a man named Christopher Columbus to sail westward to find a faster route to India. With this decision, Christopher Colombus connected two completely separate worlds, the East and the West. Because of this colossal event, the largest exchange of plants, animals, disease, culture and intelligence occurred known today as the Columbian Exchange.
In the Americas and Africa from 1492 to 1750, many similar demographic and environmental changes occurred such as the mass movement of population and the introductions of different crops in both regions, but also experienced differences such as the location and fate of displaced populations as well as the purpose of production of new crops.
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From 1492 to 1750 both the America and Africa had similar effects on demography. A major similarity between both regions was the population boom as a result of the Columbian Exchange.
New crops were introduced to both regions which allowed for a greater more diverse food supply that resulted in a massive population boom.

Another large similarity was the decrease in the native populations in both regions. The large demand for slaves in the Americans to work on plantations to produce cash crops such as cotton, tobacco, and sugar were in high demand.
Because of this demand, many people were deported out of Africa and to the Americas through “The Middle Passage”. Even though the amount of African people increased due to the new crops, the overall population of Africa was severely hindered. Similarly, the native populations in the Americas declined as well.
The native populations were used as slave labor originally on the plantations and were almost entirely wiped out due to the terrible conditions on these plantations.
The main difference between the demography of the Americas and Africa from 1492 to 1750 was the amount of people in each region. Africa was only exporting people to use as slaves and sending them to the Americas so while Africa was losing population, the Americas were gain it.
Also, many European settlers immigrated to the Americas, further increasing the population. Environmentally, there were many similar and different between between the Americas and Africa as a direct result of the Columbian Exchange. A major similarity was that both regions were introduced to new crops. Many new crops in both countries found similar and sometimes more suitable climates in which to grow. New plants and species rapidly being introduced into an ecosystem can have very drastic effects, both good and bad.
Natural resources were also rapidly being exported from both regions to supply Europe, who did not have many. The differences between the crops between the regions were how they were used by the populations. In Africa the main purpose of these new crops was for a greater and more diverse food supply which lead to population growth and healthier people.
Although the Americas experienced the same effect, the main purpose of the new crops was for economic gain. Instead of growing food to better their population, the plantation owners mainly grew “Cash Crops”. These crops were not necessary to sustain life, but were in high demand. These crops included tobacco, cotton, coffee, and sugar.
As you can see, The Americas and Africa had many similarities, both demographically and environmentally, such as the mass movement of population and the introductions of different crops in both regions, but also experienced differences such as the location and fate of displaced populations as well as the purpose of production of new crops.

Roy Steele

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