8 THE AGE OF EXPLOR ATION Americas until many thousands of years later By that time the Indians had explored and settled all portions of what the Europeans would call the New World Europeans rediscovered the Americas during the period of maritime exploration known as the Age of Exploration which began in the late 15th century During this period Europeans also explored the coasts of Africa sent ships directly to India and Southeast Asia and sailed around the globe European exploration ushered in globalization the development of economic and cultural links throughout the world Europeans conquered and colonized distant lands establishing vast empires In the Americas violent conquest and diseases acciden tally brought over by the Europeans killed enormous numbers of Indians Smallpox yellow fever malaria influenza and measles were among the diseases spread to the New World Indian populations fur ther decreased as Europeans forced them to work on plantations and in mines under harsh conditions Europeans later imported African slaves to replace the Indians as a labor source Meanwhile gold and silver poured back to Europe from the mines enrich ing European economies European exploration led to the exchange of plants animals germs technologies and ideas across continents in what is now called the Columbian Exchange after Christopher Columbus Potatoes corn tomatoes sweet potatoes squash cassava
INTRODUCTION 9 In the Columbian Exchange numerous plants animals and microbes from Europe Asia and Africa were introduced to the Americas and numerous others were transferred from the Americas to Europe Asia and Africa
10 THE AGE OF EXPLOR ATION cacao the source of chocolate hot peppers pea nuts pineapple and tobacco were among the crops introduced to Europe Africa and Asia from the Americas New food sources from more productive crops led to population booms in the Old World Europeans introduced domesticated animals such as horses cattle sheep and pigs to the Americas They also brought crops such as wheat rice oats bananas olives sugarcane and coffee to the Americas and introduced steel and guns New World plantations began to produce sugar and cotton in great quanti ties leading to the creation of sugar processing and cotton textile industries in Europe
CHAPTER ONE 11 DISCOVERING THE NEW WORLD European explorers found the New World by mistake they were not looking to find new con tinents but new sea routes Europeans mainly wanted to find better trade routes to China India and Southeast Asia They valued many products from Asia including cloves pepper and other spices that were used to make food taste good and to keep it from spoil ing Also in demand were such luxuries as sheer colorful silken cloths rich carpets and sparkling jewelry The wealth of the East had been trickling into western Europe mainly by overland routes Asian mer chandise was thus both scarce and expensive in Europe Goods changed hands many times before they reached the consumer and at each exchange the cost increased Merchandise was transported by camel or horse cara vans with each animal carrying only a comparatively small load Ships could carry goods more cheaply and in greater quantity The Italian port cities were
