The Europeans brought many things to the Americas, including:
- Domestic animals such as horses, cattle, pigs, and sheep
- New crops such as wheat, oats, barley, and sugar cane
- Fruit trees such as apples, pears, peaches, and grapes
- Spices such as pepper, cinnamon, and nutmeg
- Diseases such as smallpox, measles, and bubonic plague
The Americans brought many things to Europe, including:
- Corn (maize)
- Potatoes
- Tomatoes
- Beans
- Squash
- Cacao (chocolate)
- Tobacco
- Rubber
- Pineapple
The Columbian Exchange had a profound impact on both the Americas and Europe. The new crops and animals brought to the Americas improved the diet and nutrition of the people there, and the horses and cattle made it possible for the Europeans to explore and conquer the continent more quickly. The new crops and animals brought to Europe from the Americas also had a major impact on the economy and agriculture of the continent, and the introduction of new diseases decimated the native populations of the Americas.
The Columbian Exchange was a complex and multifaceted process that had a profound impact on the societies and ecosystems of the Americas, Europe, and Africa. It continues to have an impact today, as new species continue to be introduced to new environments around the world.