Answer:
The Columbian exchange had two folds, one that is positive and one that is negative. Firstly, let us start with the positive.
The first, most valuable exchange, is that of information. The Columbian exchange saw to the exchange of information from that of Europeans and Native Americans, as well as both groups traveling in between each continent (though mostly Europeans to the Americas, rather then the opposite. However, one example of Native Americans traveling to Europe is that of Pocohantas, who traveled to Europe with her husband following their wedding). The second thing that is most exchanged is that of tangible. Towards the beginning, Europeans exchanged beads, rifles (though in small quantities), tools, and others for mostly provisional needs, such as food, but also for profitable items, such as fur. The third thing that was exchanged was that of the detrimental, which essentially was disease. Europeans brought many different European diseases, the most well-known being small-pox, which ravished the Native lands and led to communities being destroyed, as their immune systems did not protect natives from European diseases. On the flip side, Europeans that returned home brought with them siphilis, which caused sores and damage to internal organs.
It can be agreed that Europeans definitely got more benefits from the Native Americans, and that the benefits that the Native Americans obtained was heavily outweighed by the negatives. The Columbian exchange helped bring the two worlds together, and brought about advances in many fields, as well as information on new plants, animals, technological inventions, mineral wealth, as well as the exchange of cultures, languages, and even religions. The Columbian exchange, because of this, played an important role in shaping our world into how it is today.
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