Recalling the full significance of the contact made between Europe and the Americas, this book shows how the encounter of two "old worlds" gave rise to a truly new world on both sides of the Atlantic. From astronomy to food, the history shows how America began transforming Europe the moment European explorers set foot on American soil. Featuring an alphabetical glossary to connect the particular to the universal, the book reveals the vast contributions the Americas and their original inhabitants made to the world.