During the first hundred years of European exploration, what was the main cause of decline in the number of Indians living in North America? Choose the best answer.
A: Fighting between various tribes
B: Movement of many Indians
C: Disease brought to the continent by Europeans
D: Skirmishes and wars between Indians and explorers
C: Disease brought to the continent by Europeans
The spread of diseases brought by Europeans such as smallpox, measles, and influenza had a devastating effect on Native American populations, causing a significant decline in their numbers during the first hundred years of European exploration.