How did Columbus-era diseases reshape Americas’ population over 150 years?

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The introduction of Old World diseases by Christopher Columbus dramatically altered the demographics of the Americas over a 150-year period.

Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas in 1492 marked the introduction of diseases such as smallpox, measles, whooping cough, chickenpox, and typhus. These pathogens had a devastating impact on the indigenous populations who possessed no natural immunity to them. The ensuing epidemic, over the subsequent 150 years, led to a catastrophic decline in the native population, resulting in millions of deaths.
Introduction of Novel Pathogens

The voyages of Christopher Columbus in 1492 brought a range of infectious diseases from Europe to the Americas. Among these were smallpox, measles, whooping cough, chickenpox, and typhus. Prior to this introduction, these diseases were unknown in the Americas.
Lack of Natural Immunity Among Indigenous Populations

The indigenous peoples of the Americas had lived in relative isolation, which meant they had not developed any natural resistance or immunity to the diseases carried by the European colonizers. This lack of prior exposure left them exceptionally vulnerable to these new pathogens.
Catastrophic Mortality Rates

According to research published in the Journal of Economic Perspectives in 2010, the introduction of these diseases by Columbus led to a staggering mortality rate among the native populations. Over the 150 years following Columbus's arrival, these epidemics are estimated to have caused the deaths of millions of indigenous people.

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How did Columbus-era diseases reshape Americas’ population over 150 years?

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