Which statement reflects an accurate description of the effect of the Columbian Exchange in the decades following its inception?

A. The Columbian Exchange reintroduced the slave trade to Africa.
B. The Columbian Exchange brought a lasting decline in population resulting from diseases such as smallpox.
C. The Columbian Exchange led to worldwide economic instability because of a massive surplus of silver from the Americas.
D. The Columbian Exchange increased Old World population due to the spread of new food crops such as bananas, corn, and potatoes.

The accurate description of the effect of the Columbian Exchange in the decades following its inception is option D: The Columbian Exchange increased Old World population due to the spread of new food crops such as bananas, corn, and potatoes.

Explanation:

The accurate description of the effect of the Columbian Exchange in the decades following its inception is option D: The Columbian Exchange increased Old World population due to the spread of new food crops such as bananas, corn, and potatoes.

The Columbian Exchange was a period of widespread exchange of plants, animals, diseases, and technologies between the Americas and the Old World. One of the significant impacts of this exchange was the introduction of new food crops from the Americas to the Old World.

For example, the cultivation and consumption of crops like bananas, corn, and potatoes greatly increased in the Old World as a result of the Columbian Exchange. These crops were highly nutritious and could be grown in a variety of climates, making them valuable food sources.

The introduction of these new food crops had a positive effect on the Old World population. The increased availability of nutritious crops led to improved diets, which in turn contributed to population growth in various regions. These crops were able to support larger populations, leading to an increase in the overall population of the Old World.

So, option D accurately reflects the effect of the Columbian Exchange on the Old World population, highlighting the positive impact of new food crops introduced from the Americas.