The development of new technologies in the 16th century highly contributed to European exploration to the new world. During the Renaissance, European territory was experiencing dramatic scientific and technological changes and advances, such as the development of the lateen sail, magnetic compass, Portuguese caravels and map making. Additionally, Europeans improved some previous inventions as well, including gunpowder (originally from China). These technologies were fundamental for Europeans when looking for new effective maritime trade routes. In addition, another fundamental factor that led to European exploration was the desire to spread religious beliefs. Europeans were strong Christian believers, however, after the Protestant reformation many branches of christianity began to spread throughout Europe. Therefore, this led to international competition among European powers to spread their own kind of christianity in the New World. That being said, Christopher Columbus voyages and European exploration greatly affected the Native American society at the time by the spread of diseases. Europeans brought smallpox, the bubonic plague and  yellow fever to the americas, therefore leading to a decline of a 90% of the indigenous population throughout  American land. This massive decline of the population was the result of the lack of immunity from the Indigenous population.