The voyages of Christopher Columbus opened the New World to colonization by the Spanish and other European countries like the Dutch, English, and French. This development had dramatic consequences for both continents. The exchange of plants, animals and pathogens had a dramatic effect on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. As an example, potatoes, beans, and tomatoes were introduced to the diets of Europeans. The nutritional benefits of this exchange caused the population of Europe to grow. This increase in the population of Europe was a catalyst for the Industrial Revolution. In general, Christopher Columbus's "discovery" had a positive effect on the economies of Europe.
The introduction of new people, as well as the diseases that they brought with them, had a very negative impact on the Americas. Warfare and disease caused the deaths of a large proportion of the natives that came to be called Indians. They faced a catastrophic loss of territory as the Europeans continued to colonize the continent for the next two centuries.
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