Final answer:
The primary cause of the Taínos' destruction was European diseases, particularly smallpox, which devastated indigenous populations with no immunity to such illnesses. Spanish conquistadors also contributed through violence and enslavement.
Step-by-step explanation:
The destruction of the Taínos was a tragic event in history, with several factors contributing to this devastation. When it comes to the options provided, European diseases and Spanish conquistadors both played significant roles in the decimation of the Taíno population. The Spanish conquistadors were directly responsible for violence, enslavement, and harsh conditions imposed upon the Taínos. However, the spread of European diseases such as smallpox, influenza, and measles, to which the Taínos had no immunity, was the primary cause of death. In fact, smallpox was responsible for the greatest number of Amerindian deaths in the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries, drastically reducing populations on islands like Hispaniola from millions to mere hundreds in a relatively short span of time.
The overall impact of the arrival of Europeans, which included Columbus and the subsequent conquistadors, coupled with the introduction of deadly diseases, led to an unprecedented population collapse among the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean. European diseases, especially smallpox, were the primary culprit for the mass mortality of Amerindian populations during this period.