Before the seventeenth century, significant global exchanges occurred.

1. From Asia: The Silk Routes. These ancient networks linked China to Europe and North Africa for centuries. They facilitated extensive trade of goods like silk, pottery, and spices westward, with precious metals flowing eastward. Crucially, they also spread ideas, religions such as Buddhism, and diverse cultures, profoundly shaping civilisations across vast distances.
2. From the Americas: Columbian Exchange of Crops. Following the Americas' discovery, a massive transfer of new food crops occurred globally. Staples like potatoes, maize, tomatoes, and groundnuts spread from the Americas. These new foods revolutionised diets and agriculture, especially in Europe and Asia, leading to significant population growth and fundamentally altering global food systems.