The impact of the Columbian Exchange on global trade and cultures following European exploration was transformative. Initiated by Christopher Columbus's voyages in the late 15th century, this exchange involved the transfer of goods, crops, animals, and diseases between the Americas and the Old World. New World crops, such as potatoes and corn, significantly improved food security in Europe, while European livestock and technology transformed agricultural practices in the Americas. However, the exchange also led to devastating consequences, including the spread of diseases that decimated indigenous populations, reshaping global demographics and cultural interactions.