Smallpox has had a major impact on world history. Spanish conquistadors brought European diseases to Central America that proved far more deadly to the indigenous populations than the foreign weapons. Indigenous populations of regions where smallpox was non-native were rapidly decimated and weakened by smallpox (along with other introduced diseases) during periods of initial foreign contact, which helped pave the way for conquest and colonization. This watercolor from The Codex Mart穩nez Compa簽籀n (1782-85) shows Amerindians dying from smallpox, against which they had no defense. The Codex Mart穩nez Compa簽籀nis a manuscript edited by the bishop of Trujillo, Peru, Baltasar Jaime Mart穩nez Compa簽籀n, containing 1,411 watercolors and 20 musical scores documenting life in his diocese. The watercolors contain pictures of the life of the Indians, clothing, customs, and also extensive natural history.