Columbian Food Exchange Project

Objective:
To analyze the impact of the worldwide exchange of flora (native plants and
crops) on contemporary ecology, economy and culture.
The cultural and biological exchange between the "New World" and the "Old
World" is often called the Columbian Exchange in reference to Christopher
Columbus.
Critical Thinking Questions: You must answer in full sentences and have completed
thoughts.
1. How would life in America and Europe be different if the Europeans had never
arrived? Explain your answer.
2. Would everyone regard the Columbian Exchange as a positive development in
world history? Explain your answer.
Background Information:

Every time you go to the movies and have popcorn, you should thank an explorer. The
same is true when you bite into a slice of pizza or a chocolate bar because each of those
foods came from what Europe coined as the New World through what is known as the
Columbian Exchange.

The first voyage of Christopher Columbus to the Americas in 1492 launched an era of
large-scale contact between the Old and the New Worlds. The Columbian Exchange was
the dramatically widespread exchange of animals, plants, culture, human populations
(including slaves), communicable diseases, and ideas between the Eastern and Western
hemispheres (Old World and New World). The Columbian Exchange greatly
affected almost every society on Earth. Contrary to its name, this worldwide event did not
only take place in 1492 when Columbus came to the Americas. The exchange continued
with each subsequent voyage from Europe to the Americas. They brought with them
items that had never been seen here before. They also took food, ideas, and even people
back with them to the Old World!

Requirements: Portfolio

In this portfolio you will complete a series of activities and readings to help you analyze
the impact of the Columbian Exchange on the current world.

1. Map showing the origins of crops and products that were exchanged ________/15
2. Restaurant Menu ________/ 25
3. Answers to Guiding Questions ________/ 10
Due Date: September 29th 2017
Directions:

1. Draw/Print a map showing the products that were exchanged during the
Columbian Exchange. (It needs to be clear either way.)
2. You and your partner are opening a restaurant with either an Old World or
New World theme. (Random selection for project)
3. YOU NEED A MENU!!
You and your partner will design a menu. What will you serve? Using your
Columbian Exchange list, plan your restaurant's menu. Your restaurant is either in
the "Old World" or the "New World", not both.
4. Create a menu that reflects food found in the hemisphere you represent. You will
do this using the provided list of each area. There needs to be at least 4 sections
appetizers, main dishes-entre, beverages, and dessert. (You need at least 2 for
each section)
5. You can use foods only available in your part of the world. What does this mean?
No hot pepperoni pizza or hot fudge sundaes! The foods on your menu should be
correct for your region of the world before the Columbian Exchange (Old World)
or what it would look like after the Columbian Exchange (New World)

6. YOUR MENU NEEDS TO INCLUDE:

1. Restaurant name
2. Menu cover design
3. Use 2017 prices
4. Appetizers
5. Main dishes Entrees
6. Beverages
7. Desserts
7. Typed/Written response to Guiding Questions.
a. How did European beliefs and attitude affect how they treated the
indigenous people?
b. How did colonization affect the economic, political and social part of the
indigenous people?
c. What would life be like in the United States if the Columbian Exchange
never happened?
d. What foods would we eat in the United States?
Examples of Old World Foods:
Cattle (beef), Pigs(Pork), Sheep (lamb and mutton), Chicken
Honeybees, Wheat, Onion, Lettuce, White rice, Watermelon, Coffee
Tea, Bananas, Sugarcane, Peaches, Pears, Olives, Oats, Soybeans
Barley, Okra, Oranges, Lemons, Limes

Examples of New World Foods:

Chocolate, Wild Rice, Peppers, Vanilla, Pumpkins, Avocados, Peanuts
Sunflowers, String beans, Sweet potatoes, Pecans, Cashews, Pineapples
Blueberries, Tomatoes, Corn, Potatoes, Lima beans, Kidney beans, Turkey

Submit your project in Google Classroom!