The introduction of diseases refers to the unintentional spread of infectious illnesses by European explorers and settlers to the native populations in America during the Age of Exploration.
Related terms
Columbian Exchange: This term refers to the widespread exchange of goods, ideas, plants, animals, and diseases between Europe and America after Christopher Columbus's voyage in 1492.
Smallpox: A highly contagious disease caused by a virus that was one of the most destructive epidemics for Native American populations.
Epidemic: A sudden outbreak or increase in cases of a disease above what is normally expected in a population.