Why was it difficult for diseases to spread early in European exploration

The Columbian Exchange refers to the exchange of diseases, ideas, food e Columbian Exchange refers to the exchange of diseases, ideas, food

crops, and populations between the New World and the Old World rops, and populations between the New World and the Old World

following the voyage to the Americas by Christo ollowing the voyage to the Americas by Christopher Columbus in 1492. pher Columbus in 1492.

The Old World-by which we mean not just Europe, but the entire Eastern he Old World-by which we mean not just Europe, but the entire Eastern

Hemisphere-gained from the Columbian Exchange in a number of ways. Discov - emisphere-gained from the Columbian Exchange in a number of ways. Discoveries

of new supplies of metals are perhaps the best known. But the Old World also ries of new supplies of metals are perhaps the best known. But the Old World also

gained new staple crops, such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, maize, and cassava. Less ained new staple crops, such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, maize, and cassava. Less

calorie-intensive foods, such as tomatoes, chili peppers, cacao, peanuts, and pineap - alorie-intensive foods, such as tomatoes, chili peppers, cacao, peanuts, and pineapples

were also introduced, and are now culinary centerpieces in many Old World les were also introduced, and are now culinary centerpieces in many Old World

countries, namely Italy, Greece, and other Mediterranean countries (tomatoes), ountries, namely Italy, Greece, and other Mediterranean countries (tomatoes),

India and Korea (chili peppers), Hungary (paprika, made from chili peppers), and ndia and Korea (chili peppers), Hungary (paprika, made from chili peppers), and

Malaysia and Thailand (chili peppers, peanuts, and pineapples). Tobacco, another alaysia and Thailand (chili peppers, peanuts, and pineapples). Tobacco, another

New World crop, was so universally adopted that it came to be used as a substitute ew World crop, was so universally adopted that it came to be used as a substitute

for currency in many parts of the world. The exchange also drastically increased or currency in many parts of the world. The exchange also drastically increased

the availability of many Old World crops, such as sugar and coffee, which were he availability of many Old World crops, such as sugar and coffee, which were

particularly well-suited for the soils of the New World. articularly well-suited for the soils of the New World.

The exchange not only brought gains, but also losses. European contact he exchange not only brought gains, but also losses. European contact

enabled the transmission of diseases to previously isolated communities, which caused devastation far exceeding that of even the Black Death in fourteenth-century evastation far exceeding that of even the Black Death in fourteenth-century

Europe. Europeans brought deadly viruses and bacteria, such as smallpox, measles, urope. Europeans brought deadly viruses and bacteria, such as smallpox, measles,

typhus, and cholera, for which Native Americans had no immunity (Denevan, 1976). yphus, and cholera, for which Native Americans had no immunity (Denevan, 1976).

On their return home, European sailors brought syphilis to Europe. Although less n their return home, European sailors brought syphilis to Europe. Although less

deadly, the disease was known to have caused great social disruption throughout eadly, the disease was known to have caused great social disruption throughout

the Old World.