The ecological transformation initiated by the contact of 1492 was fundamentally asymmetrical. The New World received pathogens that devastated its human populations, alongside domesticated animals that aggressively reshaped its landscapes and outcompeted native fauna. In contrast, the Old World acquired a suite of highly productive cultivars—most notably maize, potatoes, and cassava—that revolutionized agriculture. Rather than causing demographic collapse, these imported crops fueled a population boom across Europe and Asia, ultimately providing the labor surplus that drove later imperial expansion and industrialization.
Based on the passage, which of the following best explains a major consequence of the Columbian Exchange on the Old World?
- AThe widespread adoption of American livestock breeds reduced European reliance on grain cultivation.
- The introduction of nutrient-rich crops from the Americas stabilized food supplies and stimulated population growth.Answer
- CThe establishment of the encomienda system redistributed land grants directly to European settlers to promote agricultural trade.
- DThe uniform cultural and political responses of indigenous societies to European contact facilitated immediate colonization.