Final answer:
The Columbian Exchange was a widespread transfer of plants, animals, diseases, culture, and ideas following Columbus's voyages. It had profound effects on global nutrition, population, culture, and led to the deaths of many Native Americans due to diseases introduced by Europeans.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Columbian Exchange refers to the enormous widespread transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations (including slaves), technology, and ideas between the Americas, the Old World (Europe, Asia, and Africa), and the West Indies, following the voyages of Christopher Columbus in 1492. This exchange had significant global implications, including changes in nutrition, the spread of diseases, increases in population growth, and transformations in culture and economies across the world.
Turning to the options given, option B describes an aspect of the Columbian Exchange—specifically, the exchange of diseases between the Old and New Worlds. However, the Columbian Exchange encompassed more than just diseases, as it also included the exchange of goods like maize, potatoes, tomatoes, and chocolate, as well as animals such as pigs, sheep, and cattle. Thus, the correct answer to the provided question about the definition of the Columbian Exchange is B. an exchange of plants, animals, and diseases between Europe and the Americas.
The impact of the Columbian Exchange was profound, especially on Native American populations. Diseases such as measles and smallpox brought by Europeans decimated indigenous peoples, with some estimates suggesting that 90% of Native Americans died as a result. From a cultural standpoint, this exchange led to the diffusion of cultures, reshaping civilizations with the introduction of new religious practices, ideas about property, and commodities.