Question

prepwork 0.5 summary of the columbian exchange and atlantic slavery
read and annotate the following excerpts and answer the corresponding questions
a: columbian exchange
the development of atlantic trade and migration, along with the accompanying biological exchanges, had
significant demographic and environmental consequences in both the americas and afro–eurasia.
historians have labeled this process as the columbian exchange. in eurasia, plants from the americas, such
as maize (corn) and the potato, contributed to population growth and increased livestock feed. in africa,
maize (corn) in particular has facilitated greater food security, but also contributed to deforestation. this
expanded the agricultural frontiers of african empires, such as that of the asante. in the americas,
afro–eurasian viruses such as smallpox, measles, and yellow fever devastated local populations that lacked
immunity to these diseases. the resulting demographic collapse limited the amerindians’ ability to slow the
rate of european settlements. eurasian domesticated animals (notably pigs, goats, sheep, cattle, and horses)
significantly impacted the environment of the americas. foraging by these animals compacted the soil and
eradicated indigenous plants and grasses. expanding livestock frontiers also brought european settlers into
conflict with amerindians. the eventual amerindian adaptation to the presence of eurasian livestock led to
the development of the first pastoral and equestrian hunting and gathering communities in the americas.
b: the formation of plantation and extractive economies
the global demand for silver, combined with declining silver production in japan, supported the
development and expansion of extractive economies in the americas. by the mid-1500s, spain had
iestablished large mining settlements in potosi and zacatecas, where large deposits of silver had been
discovered. mining efficiency increased as spaniards developed new iron mining tools and techniques,
including the patio process. in addition to profitable mining ventures, spain, as well as portugal, established
plantations in the americas. asian crops—such as sugar, indigo, and rice—and american tobacco were
produced in large quantities to meet growing european demand for these crops. by the 17th century, other
maritime empires established their own plantation colonies in the caribbean and north america. iberian
colonies initially relied upon amerindian forms of coerced labor, like the mit’a, for mining and plantation
operations.
c: coercive labor systems and the transatlantic slave trade
as disease decimated amerindians, and rising living standards in europe made it difficult for american
colonies to attract indentured servants, mines and plantations became increasingly dependent upon african
slave labor. the use of african slaves in the americas expanded dramatically and the transatlantic african
slave trade reached its peak in the late 18th century. africans were skilled agriculturalists and relatively
resistant to disease compared to the indigenous amerindian population. as african slaves supplanted
amerindian laborers, europeans exploited race as a means to lower the cost of supervision in discerning
between free and slave labor. slave codes and laws created by western empires defined slavery in terms of
race. slaves and their children were legally characterized as chattel property. sophisticated african states
and kingdoms operated as intermediaries in the transatlantic slave trade. these kingdoms exchanged
prisoners of war and other forms of slaves with european traders to acquire goods such as european
weapons and indian cotton textiles. trade was conducted on african terms, as fluctuations in the volume of
the transatlantic slave trade were largely determined by african supply rather than european demand.

Explanation:

Since no specific question is provided about the excerpts, it's not possible to give a targeted answer. If you have questions like analyzing the causes of the Columbian Exchange's demographic impacts, explaining the development of plantation economies, or discussing the transatlantic slave trade's dynamics, please share the specific question so that a detailed response can be provided.

Answer:

Since no specific question is provided about the excerpts, it's not possible to give a targeted answer. If you have questions like analyzing the causes of the Columbian Exchange's demographic impacts, explaining the development of plantation economies, or discussing the transatlantic slave trade's dynamics, please share the specific question so that a detailed response can be provided.