Columbian Exchange Project

How did Tobacco impact labor practices from 1450-1750?

• Slave labor increased in Europe to handle the increase of crop
• In the American colonies there was also an increase of slave labor as many people began growing tobacco to make money
• This led to an increase of millions of slaves as cheap labour was needed to work the fields

How did the spread/cultivation of Tobacco impact the enviornment of the new location?

• With an increase of crop use, many areas of land were cleared for plantations leading to deforestation
• An increase of product also meant an increase of slaves and merchants
• This brought even more damage and disease leading to many Native American deaths

Two examples of how Tobacco was incorporated into the culture of a new group of people in the 1450-1750 time period

Europeans (Medicinal):

Map of origin point and spread of Tobacco

Columbus discovers tobacco in the Americas (most historians say Mesoamerica) in 1492

• Could be used to surpress effects of toothaches, headaches, or any other substance or pain
• Some European countries like Spain considered it a herb that could help become a remedy for diseases
• The French Queen, Catherine de' Medici, used this as a snuff that helped cure headaches
• Used to also help against worms, cancer, lockjaw, and other conditions as well.

Columbus spreads tobacco back to Spain and Portugal near the end of the 15th century.

Tobacco spreads to every country in Europe by 1571.

Native Americans and Colonists (Economy):

Tobacco is introduced into SW Asia, North Africa, and Russia in the early 17th century.

Tobacco diffuses to many places such as East Asia and South Africa in the late 17th century.

• Used it as a source of currency, which helped increase trade between these two types of people (Both Native Americans and Colonists)
• Used to pay taxes to the British government (Colonists)
• Used to buy slaves (Colonists)
• Used to buy goods from England (Colonists)

Image shows Native Americans trading tobacco to colonists.

Sources:

• encyclopedia.org
• wikipedia.org
• st-group.com
• www.ushistory.org
• www.discovermagazine.com

Where did tobacco originate?

• Tobacco originated in the New World and was used by Native Americans in Mesoamerica.
• The Old World learned of it when Christopher Columbus returned from discovering the New World.

Tobacco in the Columbian Exchange

By Tyler Loshy and Wilson Joy

Who was profiting from Tobacco trade?

• Spain (Spanish Empire)
• England (Taxing colonists/British Empire)
• Many British colonies (Maryland and Virginia)

Image shows that Tobacco helped start the colonies growth.

What is the approximate date(s) that Tobacco spread to the East?

Where did tobacco spread?

• After the Columbian Exchange tobacco had spread to Europe, India, Africa, and Asia.
• The Turks spread it to Egypt
• Japan introduced it to China
• Christopher Columbus brought it to Europe
• It also spread through the Silk Road and the Indian Ocean Trade.

• Entered trade routes in Europe after 1492 as Christopher Columbus finds tobacco in Mesoamerica and spreads it to Spain and Portugal
• In 1571, it spread to every country in Europe
• The early 17th century spread tobacco to places like the Middle East, Russia, and North Africa
• The late 17th century spread the product to South Africa

How profitable was Tobacco?

• Profitibable item in the Columbian Exchange especially among Europeans
• Produced in the Americas and sold at great prices due to high-supply
• Was considered a cash-crop as it was meant to be sold for economic purposes and high prices