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Cacao Plant
Spain, 1743
The Columbian Exchange refers to the process by which plants, animals, diseases, people, and ideas were exchanged between Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas during the 15th and 16th centuries. This exchange had a profound impact on the world, shaping the course of history and transforming societies.
The beans, harvested from the cacao tree, were highly valued by the Aztecs and Mayans for their use in beverages and currency.
The demand for cacao beans led to the establishment of large-scale plantations in tropical regions, including West Africa and Southeast Asia. This, in turn, fueled the transatlantic slave trade as labor was needed to cultivate and harvest cacao beans.
Cacao beans, originating from Mesoamerica, were introduced to the rest of the world through the Columbian Exchange.
During the Columbian Exchange, cacao beans were brought to Europe, where they gained popularity and were integrated into European society.
This led to the development of chocolate as a consumable product, which eventually spread globally.