The historical consequences of the Columbian Exchange were profound and far-reaching, resulting in the transfer of vast quantities of goods, crops, animals, and diseases between the Old World and the New World after the arrival of Columbus in 1492. This exchange balanced the ecosystems and economies of both hemispheres, introducing staples such as potatoes and corn to Europe, while Old World commodities like wheat and sugar were brought to the Americas. However, it also led to devastating impacts, including the spread of epidemics that decimated Indigenous populations in the Americas.