Maize, Potatoes, Tomatoes (as part of Columbian Exchange)
Definition
Maize (corn), potatoes, and tomatoes are among key agricultural products native to Americas that were introduced to Europe during Columbian Exchange - a period of cultural exchange between New World (Americas) and Old World (Europe) following Christopher Columbus's voyages.
Analogy
Imagine if you had only ever eaten vanilla ice cream your whole life. Then someone introduces you to chocolate and strawberry flavors. That's kind of what happened during Columbian Exchange when Europeans discovered new foods like maize, potatoes & tomatoes from Americas - it dramatically expanded their "menu"!
Related terms
Columbus’s Voyages: These were journeys made by Italian explorer Christopher Columbus across Atlantic Ocean under sponsorship of Spanish Crown which led to widespread awareness and subsequent colonization of Americas by Europeans.
Old World: This term refers to continents of Europe, Asia, and Africa - known world before discovery of Americas.
New World: This is a term used to refer to Americas (North, Central & South America), discovered during Age of Exploration.
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