Figure 1.-- Two New World crops (corn and potatoes) permitted a substantial increase in the European population. The potato was inintially the most important. Today corn is at the center of the modern food supply. Corn became a staple in Western Europe and even more so in the United States. Americans have thought little about corn until the ethenol craze of the early 2000s, but in fact corn was the central crop of American agriculture. Even more so it is the principal way which may converts sun energy into food on earth. This is because few plants so efficently convet sun light and water into organic material.

Many of these crops have had profond consquences on humnan culture and society. Human agriculture used the native plants in these river valleys and as a result the crops varied from one civilization to another. Gradually plants were imported from distant regions. Agriculture provided both food and raw material for textiles. The history of specific agricultural commodities is another interesting topic. The beginning of civilization is associated with the development of productive strains of grain. The most important in Mesopotamia, Egypt, and India was wheat. The primary grain in China was rice. Sheep were domesticated and bred to produce wool, Subsequently as a result of the conquest of the America, several new agricultural commodites reached Europe: corn and potatoes. Corn is the basis for a very sizeable proportion of modern food production. Potatoes made possible a significant increase in the European population. European colonial empires developed sugar production in tropical colonies. Sugar was produced on plantations with slave labor. In the United States, cotton became a the third rung of the slave trade and it was American cotton that made the industrial revolution possible. Three beverages (chocolate, tea, and coffee) also reached Europe as a result of the maritime outreach. An important crop in coloniasl America was tobacco, another New World plant.

Food Crops

Grains were the most important agricultural crops. Wheat was the major crop in the Middle WEast and Europe. The domestication of wheat was magor step in the Agricultural Revolution that resulted in the birth of civilization. Rice predominated in China. A rare exception to the focus on grain was the Native American civilizations of the Andes. They developed the potato as a major food crop. Native Americans in the north developed another grain--maize or corn. And with Cortez's conquest of the Aztecs and Pizzarro's conquest of the Incas, corn and the potato were introduced to Europe (16th century). While little noted at the time, the potato had a profound impact on European society including making the industrial revolution possible. Farmers could harvest far greater quantities of food per acre planting potatoes than any other crop. Corn was also important. The result was substantial population growth (17th century). The population of European countries were quite small until the arrival of the potato. Adding potatoes to farm crops substantially increased the population throughout Europe. It also meant that smaller agricultural work forces could support urban populations. This was an important factor in the industrial Revolution (18th centuries). The opening of the Great Plains in North America as well as other areas such as Australia and Argentina greatly expanded grain production in the 19th century. European colonial empires developed sugar production in tropical colonies. Sugar was produced on plantations with slave labor.

Raw Material for Textiles

Flax was the first plant grown to produce clothing. It was used to profuce linnen and was a key fabric until the development of cotton. Wool was at the center of the medieval economy. Wool was produced in large quantities in England. From here it was exported to the Low Countries where the textile industry made these small privinces the most valuable in Europe and the heart of the European ecionomic expansion in the late medieval era. And wealth generated along with the maritime outreach generated by it would give the Netherlands the ability to resist both Spanish and French armies and in the process create capitalism. Another textile raw material, cotton, played a major role in the industrial revolution and the slave trade..

Spices

Spices played a key role in the European maritime outreach. The spice route was inderdicted by the Arabs until European masriners were able to reach thr East.

Beverages

Three beverages (chocolate, tea, and coffee) also reached Europe as a result of the maritime outreach. Each has a fascinaring history. Tea is familiar to most Americans, although it is more important in Europe, especially England. Coffee also became an important trade item. Coffee houses played a key role in the development of English democracy. It also played a role in the history and economics of several Latin Ameriucan countries.

Stimulants

An important crop in coloniasl America was tobacco, another New World plant. Opium was the first major drug to play an importasnt role in history. This began with the Opium Wars.

Created: 9:20 AM 3/27/2010
Last updated: 8:15 PM 4/9/2010