1. New Food Crops: The most significant impact was the introduction of new food crops, which revolutionized agriculture and diets in the Old World. These include:
* Corn (maize): Became a staple food in many parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa.
* Potatoes: Revolutionized food production in Europe, offering a high-yield, nutritious, and storable food source.
* Tomatoes, beans, squash, peanuts, peppers: These crops added variety and nutritional value to Old World diets.
2. New Plants for Medicine and Industry: The New World provided valuable resources for medicine and industry. Some examples include:
* Tobacco: Became a major cash crop and a popular commodity for both recreational use and medicinal purposes.
* Quinine: Extracted from the cinchona tree, it was used to treat malaria, a major killer in the Old World.
* Rubber: From the rubber tree, it was used to manufacture products like tires, waterproof clothing, and more.
3. New Animals: While less impactful than the crops, some New World animals were introduced to the Old World:
* Turkeys: Became popular poultry for food.
* Guinea pigs: Used as a food source and for laboratory experiments.
* Llama and alpaca: Used as pack animals and for their wool in some regions.
It is important to note that the Columbian Exchange had a significant impact on both the New World and the Old World, resulting in both positive and negative consequences.