The Columbian Exchange was significant in global history as it facilitated the transfer of plants, animals, cultures, human populations, technology, diseases, and ideas between the Americas and the Old World following Columbus's voyages. This exchange dramatically altered agricultural practices and diets worldwide; for example, crops like potatoes and tomatoes became staples in Europe. However, it also led to devastating impacts, such as the spread of diseases like smallpox, which decimated Indigenous populations in the Americas. The Columbian Exchange resulted in profound economic, social, and ecological changes that shaped global interactions and laid the groundwork for the modern world.