The Columbian Exchange initiated significant biological, cultural, and economic transformations by exchanging crops, animals, and diseases between the Old and New Worlds following Columbus's discovery of America in 1492. It led to the introduction of new agricultural products and technologies to both continents, reshaping diets and economies, while also causing devastating population losses among Native Americans due to diseases brought by Europeans. This exchange fundamentally altered global demographics and ecosystems, marking a pivotal moment in human history.