Maize and Precolonial Africa

Arbeitspapier

Columbus’s arrival in the New World triggered an unprecedented movement of people and crops across the Atlantic Ocean. We study an overlooked part of this Columbian Exchange: the effects of New World crops in Africa. Specifically, we test the hypothesis that the introduction of maize increased population density and Trans-Atlantic slave exports in precolonial Africa. We find robust empirical support for these predictions. We also find little evidence to suggest maize increased economic growth or reduced conflict. Our results suggest that rather than stimulating development, the introduction of maize simply increased the supply of slaves during the Trans-Atlantic slave trade.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: CESifo Working Paper ; No. 7018

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Economic History: Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environment, and Extractive Industries: Africa; Oceania ; Economic Development: Agriculture; Natural Resources; Energy; Environment; Other Primary Products ; Agriculture: General
• Subject: Africa ; Columbian exchange ; maize ; slave trades

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Cherniwchan, Jevan ; Moreno-Cruz, Juan
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Center for Economic Studies and ifo Institute (CESifo)
• (where): Munich
• (when): 2018

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/180280
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:42 AM CET