Question

In the first Spanish colonies, how did nearly all indigenous peoples die?

Option 1: Poison
Option 2: Diseases
Option 3: Sacrifice
Option 4: Neglect

Answer 1

Nearly all indigenous peoples in the first Spanish colonies died due to diseases brought by Europeans, as they lacked natural immunity to illnesses like smallpox and measles, contributing to a genocidal population decline.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the first Spanish colonies, nearly all indigenous peoples died primarily due to diseases introduced by Europeans, including smallpox, typhus, measles, bubonic plague, and influenza. These illnesses thrived among native populations who lacked immunity, leading to a catastrophic decline in their numbers. The introduction of European diseases represented a case of genocide, as Native American populations plummeted from approximately 12 million in 1500 to about 237,000 by 1900. In addition to diseases, environmental depletion and cultural disruption resulting from European colonization also contributed to the depopulation of indigenous peoples.