The impact of the discovery of the Americas on European trade was profound and transformative. Following Christopher Columbus' voyages in 1492, European powers began to exploit the vast resources of the New World, significantly altering trade routes and commodities. The influx of sugar, tobacco, and later cotton from the Americas created lucrative markets that revitalized European economies. Additionally, the exchange of goods initiated the Columbian Exchange, where plants, animals, and diseases were traded between the Old and New Worlds. This shift greatly influenced economic systems and contributed to the rise of capitalism in Europe.