The Columbian Exchange: Biological and Cultural Consequences of 1492, 30th Anniversary Edition (Contributions in American Studies) by Alfred Crosby (PDF)

Description

Thirty years ago, Alfred Crosby published a small work that illuminated a simple point, that the most important changes brought on by the voyages of Columbus were not social or political, but biological in nature. The book told the story of how 1492 sparked the movement of organisms, both large and small, in both directions across the Atlantic. This Columbian exchange, between the Old World and the New, changed the history of our planet drastically and forever.The book The Columbian Exchange changed the field of history drastically and forever as well. It has become one of the foundational works in the burgeoning field of environmental history, and it remains one of the canonical texts for the study of world history. This 30th anniversary edition of The Columbian Exchange includes a new preface from the author, reflecting on the book and its creation, and a new foreword by J. R. McNeill that demonstrates how Crosby established a brand new perspective for understanding ecological and social events. As the foreword indicates, The Columbian Exchange remains a vital book, a small work that contains within the inspiration for future examinations into what happens when two peoples, separated by time and space, finally meet.

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐After being deluged in recent years with Jared Diamond’s “Guns, Germs, and Steel” theory of history in books and on TV, its refreshing to go back to the original thinker. One only need consider the “Great Man” theory of history, and its utter inadequacy to account for the dynamics of old world meets new world history to realize how much history has changed and the seminal part in that change of this author and this book. Crosby shows that a knowledge of epidemiology and botany informs our history more than belief, culture, or technology. That the spanish slaughtered and enslaved in pursuit of gold, ignoring a harvest of potatoes and tomatoes; since valued much higher than all the gold ever mined, puts in doubt both any “great man” theories of history not to mention any “rational self interest” based economic theories. We’re just now beginning to perceive the greater gifts of agricultural diversity that the native americans left us but we have rejected, possibly to our peril. The first flickers of recognition of the depths of their gift and sacrifice starts here. A book that’s a joy to read and changes the way you see the world – more than one can reasonably ask of any book.

⭐This book is pretty interesting at parts, boring at others. I have learned a lot about the Colombian exchange.I needed it for my college history class. Its very detailed and confusing language is used at times.

⭐Wish I had read this book many years ago. Crosby lays out the influence, flowing in both directions, of the meeting of Europe/Africa with the Western hemisphere. It was and is way more of a give and take than you might imagine. Fascinating.

⭐Very pleased to have this in my library

⭐A wealth of information!

⭐This was an excellent book in excellent condition. It was what I expected it to be. It arrived in time for me to use for a class assignment.

⭐This book is VERY good for Educational purposes. I used it for one of my college classes and it was wonderful. I would definitely recommend it.

⭐very boring book, a few interesting concepts. i would not read it for fun, but it was useful for a class once.

⭐I found the book very useful for writing an essay on disease as part of the Columbian exchange

⭐What can I say? Crosby provides great insight into a whole different aspect of the Columbian exchange of 1492. He tells of many of the significant factors of the joining of two worlds set apart for millions of years. The transfer of biota (animals, plants, pathogens, etc) played a major part in the transformation of the Americas in such drastic ways that could never be reversed. A must read for those interested in history!!!

⭐This book preceed Jared Diamond works in Arms, Steel and Germs and others essays.

⭐A great read for any one interested in the history of the Americas and the movement of plant and animal species around the world.

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