What was a negative impact of the Columbian exchange for the indigenous people

1 answer

One of the most significant negative impacts of the Columbian Exchange on indigenous people was the introduction of new diseases to which they had no immunity. Diseases such as smallpox, influenza, and measles decimated indigenous populations across the Americas. These epidemics resulted in dramatic declines in population, sometimes wiping out entire communities, and significantly weakened the social structures and resilience of indigenous societies. The loss of life and the disruption caused by these diseases made it easier for European colonizers to exert control over the remaining populations and territories.