Which of the Following Statements Accurately Describes the Significance of Diseases

Multiple Choice

Which of the following statements accurately describes the significance of diseases such as smallpox during the Age of Exploration?

A) It was predominantly European explorers who contracted the diseases of the Native Americans and, as a result, the Europeans put a halt to expeditions for several years until they built up immunity.
B) Native American chieftains and religious leaders often proved immune to these diseases and, thus, maintained a stronger hold over their empires due to their people viewing them as immortal gods.
C) The diseases led Europeans to put major restrictions on their missionary work in the Americas because they worried God would use epidemics to punish them for forcing their views on others.
D) Indigenous peoples, including their rulers, suffered immense fatalities due to the diseases and, especially with this loss in leadership, proved less able to defend themselves against the Europeans.
E) Because Europeans and indigenous peoples suffered equally from the diseases transferred through the Columbian Exchange, Cortés's conquest of the city of Tenochtitlán was largely a toss-up.