"this expedition was attended by many beneficial results; for the whole country was thereby tranquillized [sic], while it spread a vast idea of cortes' justice and bravery throughout the whole of new spain; so that every one feared cortes' authority rose at once to so great a height, that the inhabitants came from the most distant parts to lay their disputes before him, particularly respecting the election of caziques [native leaders], right of tenure, and division of property and subjects. about this time thousands of people were carried off by the smallpox, and among them numbers of caziques; and cortes, as though he had been lord of the whole country, appointed the new caziques, but made a point of nominating those who had the best claim."
- from the memoirs of the conquistador bernal diaz del castillo. vol 1., bernal diaz del castillo, c. 1560

the passage clearly demonstrates which consequence of european discovery of the new world?
a) the spread of disease
b) the diffusion of christianity
c) indigenous resistance movements
d) the destruction of native governments