The Columbian Exchange

What happened

Columbus's voyages set off a vast, two-way transfer of plants, animals, people, and diseases between the Old World and the New, later named the Columbian Exchange. Maize, potatoes, and tomatoes spread to Europe, Asia, and Africa; wheat, horses, cattle, and sugar came to the Americas; and Old World germs such as smallpox and measles devastated Indigenous peoples who had no immunity.

Why it matters

The Columbian Exchange reshaped diets, economies, and populations across the whole planet — one of the most consequential transformations in human history.

Sources

• World History Encyclopedia. Columbian Exchange · Reputable source