Question

Which of the following deadly disease spread in America through Portugal and Spain in mid-sixteenth century?

• A. Yellow fever
• B. Smallpox
• C. Malaria
• D. Cholera

Hint:

Remember this important point from global history: \[ \boxed{\text{European conquest of America} \Rightarrow \text{Spread of Smallpox}} \] Smallpox was deadly for Native Americans because they had no natural immunity against it.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Think about who was carrying what.
When Portuguese and Spanish traders and conquerors reached the Americas, they brought goods and weapons, but also germs their bodies had already built resistance to.
Step 2: Identify the disease.
Smallpox was the killer disease that travelled with them, and since Native Americans had never been exposed to it before, they had no immunity at all.
Step 3: Note the effect and rule out the others.
Smallpox wiped out huge numbers of the native population and weakened their societies, while yellow fever, malaria and cholera are not the disease specifically linked to this sixteenth century contact.
Hence, the correct answer is option (B) Smallpox.