Question

12 mark for review
which of the following scenarios best explains the columbian exchange?
a grain crops such as wheat, oats, and barley were introduced to europe as a result of interaction with indigenous people in the americas. prior to this, the only significant grain crops grown by europeans were rice and corn.
b many new diseases were introduced to european colonizers when they began to explore the americas. in particular, diseases like smallpox, influenza, and the measles decimated many of the early colonial populations.
c domesticated animals such as cattle, horses, pigs, and chickens were introduced to the americas by european colonizers. prior to this, very few animals had been domesticated in the americas.
d crops such as potatoes and tomatoes were introduced to the americas. prior to european contact, these crops had only been grown in europe: potatoes primarily in northern europe and tomatoes primarily in southern europe.
e many crops that became valuable cash crops were introduced by european colonial powers to the americas. specific examples of these valuable plantation crops are tobacco, cacao, and pineapples.

Explanation:

The Columbian Exchange refers to the widespread transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, technology, and ideas between the Americas and the Old World (Europe, Africa, Asia) after 1492.

• Option A is incorrect: Wheat, oats, barley are Old World crops, introduced to the Americas, not Europe; Europeans grew wheat long before contact, not just rice and corn.
• Option B is incorrect: Diseases like smallpox were introduced from Europe to Indigenous American populations, not the other way around, decimating Indigenous groups, not European colonizers.
• Option C is correct: Cattle, horses, pigs, chickens are Old World domesticated animals brought to the Americas by Europeans, and the Americas had very few domesticated animals before this contact.
• Option D is incorrect: Potatoes and tomatoes are New World crops, introduced from the Americas to Europe, not the reverse.
• Option E is incorrect: Tobacco, cacao, pineapples are New World crops, they were taken from the Americas to Europe, not introduced by Europeans to the Americas.

Answer:

C. Domesticated animals such as cattle, horses, pigs, and chickens were introduced to the Americas by European colonizers. Prior to this, very few animals had been domesticated in the Americas.