The impact of the Age of Exploration on indigenous populations in the Americas was profound and often devastating. European powers, particularly Spain and Portugal, engaged in the colonization of the continent, leading to significant cultural exchanges and the introduction of new technologies and goods. However, this contact also resulted in the spread of diseases such as smallpox, which decimated indigenous populations lacking immunity. Additionally, European colonization often involved violence, displacement, and enslavement of Native peoples, radically altering their ways of life. The legacy of this era includes ongoing struggles for indigenous rights and recognition in contemporary society.