The Columbian Exchange and the Age of Discovery refer to two different historical events that had a significant impact on global culture, economy and politics.
The Columbian Exchange was the exchange of plants, animals, ideas and culture between the Americas, Europe and Africa after Christopher Columbus' voyages to the Americas in 1492. This exchange led to the transfer of crops such as potatoes, tomatoes, corn, and tobacco from the Americas to Europe and Africa, which had a significant impact on the global economy and food production. It also brought diseases such as smallpox and influenza, which had a devastating effect on the indigenous populations of the Americas.
The Age of Discovery was a period of European exploration that began in the 15th century and lasted until the 17th century. It was characterized by the voyages of explorers such as Columbus, Vasco da Gama, and Ferdinand Magellan, who set out to find new trade routes to Asia and the Americas. These voyages led to the discovery and colonization of new lands, and had a significant impact on the economy, politics, and culture of Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
Both events were closely related, as the age of discovery made possible the columbian exchange, which in turn had a big impact on the global economy and culture, but they had different goals, the age of discovery was primarily focused on finding new trade routes, while the columbian exchange was focused on the transfer of plants, animals, ideas and culture between the continents.