The major significance of the Great Exchange, also known as the Colombian Exchange, was its transformative impact on the pre-modern global economy and ecosystems. Initiated after Christopher Columbus's voyages in the late 15th century, it involved the transfer of plants, animals, diseases, and technologies between the Old and New Worlds. This exchange led to significant agricultural changes, introducing crops such as potatoes and maize to Europe, which in turn fueled population growth. Conversely, European diseases devastated indigenous populations in the Americas. The Great Exchange laid the groundwork for global trade networks and shaped economic relations, ultimately influencing cultures and societies across continents.