Abraham Ortelius, a Dutch cosmographer, was the first to observe the matching coastlines of the Old and New Worlds in his Thesaurus Geographicus in 1596. Centuries later, the continental drift theory was formulated, stating that America and Europe originated from a single supercontinent many millions of years ago. Since then, flora and fauna of the two new landmasses evolved separately, until 1492. We recently mentioned the consequences of the Columbian Exchange of plants, but the effects were no less dramatic when we look at the animal component. Many domesticated species existed in Europe at the time of the oceanic voyages, making the transfer of animals almost unidirectional. Horses, pigs, cattle, goats, sheep, and several other species found optimal conditions in the vast American prairies and plains.
The new introduced animals provided Native Americans with new sources of hides, wool, and animal protein. Horses, donkeys and mules, a new source of pulling power, could be used to improve transportation, both through riding and wheeled vehicles, with important economic developments. Hunting buffalos on horseback became easier too.
If horses helped in peace, they also helped in war: “One of the early advantages of the Spanish over the Mexican Aztecs, for instance, was that the Spanish had the horse. It took the American Indians a little while to adopt the horse and become equals on the field of battle” (Alfred W. Crosby on the Columbian Exchange). That changed not only the political equilibrium among the Native Indian tribes but influenced the next conflicts for the defense of the Indian territories. [Silvana Munzi]
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