What is the Columbian Exchange and how did it impact the Americas?

The Columbian Exchange refers to the widespread transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, technology, and diseases between the Americas and the Old World following Christopher Columbus's voyages in 1492. It significantly impacted the Americas by introducing new crops such as wheat and sugarcane, which transformed agriculture and economies. However, it also resulted in the unintended spread of diseases like smallpox, which decimated Indigenous populations. Overall, the exchange reshaped the social, economic, and cultural landscape of the Americas.