Final answer:
The most impactful items from the Americas to Europe in the Columbian Exchange were potatoes, maize, and tobacco. Potatoes supported population growth and adapted well to European conditions, maize spread widely as a staple crop, and tobacco became a highly desired and culturally significant item.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Columbian Exchange and Europe
The Columbian Exchange had a profound impact on Europe after contact was established with the Americas in 1492. Of the many items transferred from the Americas to Europe, certain staple crops such as potatoes, maize (corn), and tobacco proved to have the greatest influence on European populations. Potatoes, for instance, were particularly transformative due to their adaptability to the European climate and their nutritional value, which supported population growth. Moreover, maize became a crucial crop that expanded across Europe, Africa, and Asia. Tobacco, introduced to Europe through the Columbian Exchange, led to widespread use and even addiction, altering social customs and economies. Although not primarily grown in Europe, sugarcane, brought to the Americas by Columbus, underpinned an entire industry of sugar production in the Caribbean, transforming the economic landscape through the commodification of sugar and the enslavement of African populations to work on the plantations.