Describe one positive and one negative effect of the Columbian Exchange.

Positive: Increased variety and nutrients in the world's food supply. Negative: Widespread death of Native Americans due to disease.

Explain how the Columbian Exchange led to the enslavement of Africans.

The deaths of many Native Americans from disease led Europeans to seek another source of labor, resulting in the enslavement and transport of Africans to the Americas.

Exploration Encounters

5th Grade•40 minutes

Learning Objective

I can describe the interactions between Europeans, Native Americans, and Africans during the Age of Exploration.

Key Concepts

The Columbian Exchange refers to the transfer of plants, animals, cultures, and ideas between the Americas and Europe.

Deadly diseases brought by European explorers caused the deaths of up to 95 percent of Native Americans.

Crops such as potatoes, corn, and tomatoes that were originally grown in the Americas greatly increased the world’s food supply.

Practice Questions

This lesson includes 5 practice questions to reinforce learning.

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1. What is the term used to describe the transfer of plants, animals, culture, and technology between the Americas and Europe/Africa?

2. Name three crops that were originally grown in the Americas and then introduced to Europe, Africa, and Asia.

3. Besides crops, what else was transferred from Europe to the Americas during the Columbian Exchange?

...and 2 more questions

Educational Video

Columbian Exchange and Effects of Exploration - Early U.S. History for Kids

Miacademy & MiaPrep Learning Channel

Learning Objective

Key Concepts

Practice Questions

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