The Great Dying was the devastation of native American population by diseases brought over from Europe. Some of the diseases were smallpox, measles and influenza. Since all the native Americans were all dead or dying or sick, the European explorers and colonists did not have any slave or helpers to do work for them. They went to Africa in search of slaves. Africans were taken in millions, messing up their society as well as strengthening the African states involved in trade. They got goods from Europe in return for slaves.