Might life in Europe and the Americas have been different if Columbus had not journeyed to the Americas?

If Columbus had not journeyed to the Americas, the timeline and nature of European colonization could have been significantly altered. Indigenous cultures might have developed without the immediate impact of European diseases and the subsequent demographic collapse. Additionally, the transatlantic trade and the exchange of goods, ideas, and populations would have evolved differently, potentially delaying or changing the course of globalization. Overall, the absence of Columbus's voyages could have led to a vastly different geopolitical landscape in both Europe and the Americas.