In the view of the material, how did the Colombian Exchange make the world 'new'?

• A. Europeans thrived and whole cultures crumbled.
• B. Native cultures remained unchanged.
• C. The exchange created no lasting global impact.
• D. The exchange solely benefited Europe with no costs to natives.

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that the Columbian Exchange created a truly connected world by moving crops, animals, people, and diseases across oceans, reshaping diets, landscapes, and power dynamics. This meant Europe could thrive on new wealth and agricultural opportunities, while Indigenous societies in the Americas faced catastrophic disruption from disease, conquest, and social upheaval—so many cultures experienced drastic change or collapse as a result. The exchange spread crops like maize and potatoes to other continents and brought European plants, livestock, and the Atlantic trade system into the Americas, Africa, and Asia, altering economies and ways of life on a global scale. Because of that, the world became “new” in both its ecological makeup and its global connections, with benefits and costs distributed unevenly. The other statements downplay or ignore the widespread transformation and the significant harms experienced by native populations.