Historical Context:
"The Columbian Exchange was not simply a transfer of agricultural commodities; it was an ecological revolution. The introduction of Old World crops like wheat and sugarcane, alongside domesticated animals such as sheep and cattle, fundamentally reshaped the American landscape. Native ecosystems, previously managed through controlled burning and localized agriculture, were overrun by European livestock. In return, the global spread of American staples like maize, potatoes, and cassava triggered a demographic explosion in Afro-Eurasia. These crops, rich in calories and adaptable to marginal soils, acted as a buffer against famine, fueling population growth that would ultimately supply the labor force for subsequent global migrations. Thus, the biological integration of the hemispheres laid the groundwork for modern global systems."
—Adapted from Alfred W. Crosby, *The Columbian Exchange*, 1972
Which of the following developments was a direct consequence of the New World crop transfers described in the passage?
- AThe creation of the encomienda system as a means to distribute European crops and land ownership directly to indigenous families
- BThe voluntary unification of diverse Native American tribes into a single, homogeneous agricultural society to resist European ecological changes
- Long-term population growth in Eurasia supported by new calorie-dense food sourcesAnswer
- DThe introduction of Old World crops like maize and potatoes to the Americas, which resolved agricultural shortages among indigenous communities