Advanced Placement (AP) European History Practice Exam

What evidence best supports the idea that the Columbian Exchange fostered global connections?

1. The trade in sugar was important to the Portuguese capital of Lisbon

2. New world crops primarily benefited local European farmers

3. Livestock from Europe had no impact on American ecosystems

4. The movement of goods remained primarily within Europe

The correct answer is: The trade in sugar was important to the Portuguese capital of Lisbon

The selection of the trade in sugar as the best evidence supporting the idea that the Columbian Exchange fostered global connections highlights the extensive international economic networks that were established during this period. The sugar trade was not only crucial to the Portuguese capital of Lisbon but also demonstrated how European powers engaged in transatlantic commerce with the Americas and beyond. The demand for sugar in Europe led to the establishment of plantations in the New World, often relying on the forced labor of enslaved Africans, thereby linking three continents through trade, labor, and cultural exchange. This dynamic exemplifies the broader reach of the Columbian Exchange, as it involved the transfer of goods, people, and ideas between the Old World and the New World, fostering interconnectedness on a global scale. The sugar trade became a significant economic driver that shaped the development of colonial economies and the patterns of global trade, illustrating how local resources were mobilized for international markets.