The Columbian Exchange refers to the exchange of ideas, diseases, foods, crops, populations and animals between the New World and the Old World (Eastern Hemisphere) following Christopher Columbus’s voyage to the Americas in 14921. The exchange brought about massive changes to the plant and animal life of numerous parts of the world since the early explorers carried with them and introduced new species to all the parts that they visited2. There are numerous factors that promoted diet exchange during the Columbian exchange and these factors have implications on modern diet exchange.
One of these factors is the search for spices. Spices were in high demand in the ancient world and their search spurred voyages which led to new foods being introduced to the Old World diets3. For instance, capsicum peppers which were originally from Bolivia and Southern Brazil were in high demand in America where they reached by the time of the American exploration1. They were later to be introduced to Spain and Africa. Following the demand for pepper, other crops such as beans and squash were similarly introduced into Europe where they gained massive popularity and were later on introduced to Native Americans during the Columbian Exchange.
There was great diversity in the foods available in the old world t and those in the new world and hence the rapid diet changes during the Columbian exchange. Population in wither side needed to have what their counterparts had. Foods typically associated with the old world included apples, okra, onions, tea, lettuce, sugarcane, squash, coconut, coffee, sheep, cattle, pigs, chicken among others3. The New world had avocado, potato, tomatoes, pumpkins, chocolate, cashew nuts, wild rice, sunflower, vanilla berries and a variety of beans4. There being such diversity, it followed that there was demand for different foods from both sides and this aspect promoted rapid diet changes.
There were numerous issues that promoted diet changes during the Columbian Exchange and the years thereafter. After the Columbian voyage and the introduction of different foods to the Old and the New world, there followed massive population growth and later on there was agricultural revolution. These issues facilitated further diet exchange as a result of the Columbian exchange. There was more human control on food supply which led to modern civilizations. There was better animal husbandry as well as organized trade in agricultural produce and these issues promoted the speed at which diets were being exchanged among populations1. Later on there was better transportation systems and cheap labor which helped to spread different diets to different populations.
Modern diet change is influenced by issues such as ability of certain crops and animals to do well in some parts and not others. This necessitates the exchange of foods although the people living in areas where come foods are prevalent get used to those types of food being their staple foods. For instance, rice is staple food in many Asian countries while a good number of countries in the tropics have corn as the staple food. However, massive globalization is influencing the spread of virtually all foods to all parts of the world thereby promoting rapid diet changes.
Modern food processing technologies and globalization have encouraged massive diet changes and the adoption of different foods by different cultures. For instance, freezing, irradiation, dehydration, caning, curing, smoking, fermentation, salting, drying and aging are some of the processes that have allowed foods to be exported to far off corners3. The processes have also added flavors to foods making them appealing to people not used to them and this has influenced massive diet changes. In the modern world some foods are currently universal. These foods include fruits, vegetables, wheat, rice, cheeses, nuts, honey, potatoes, and meats among many others.
References
Nathan N, Qian N. The Columbian Exchange: A History of Disease, Food, and Ideas. Journal of Economic Perspectives, Volume 24, Number 2, Spring 2010 (Pages 163–188). June 24, 2016 http://scholar.harvard.edu/files/nunn/files/nunn_qian_jep_2010.pdf
Schwartz J. "The Great Food Migration". in "Newsweek" (Special Issue, Fall/Winter 1991, pp. 58-62). June 24 2016 http://www2.powayusd.com/teachers/bsantibanez/Great%20Food%20Migration.htm
Crosby A. The Columbian Exchange. 2010. June 24 2016 http://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-by-era/american-indians/essays/columbian-exchange
McNeill J. The Columbian Exchange. June 24 2016 http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/1866
