Question

Which of the following effects of Pizarro’s and Corte’s defeat of Native Americans? Select all that apply

a) Cultural assimilation
b) Economic prosperity
c) Population decline
d) Political stability

Answer 1

The effects of Pizarro’s and Cortes's defeat of the Native Americans included cultural assimilation, a significant population decline due to disease and violence, and political instability as European governance disrupted indigenous societies. Notably, economic prosperity was not a typical outcome for the native populations who experienced resource exploitation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The effects of Pizarro's and Cortes's defeat of the Native Americans had significant societal consequences. Among these were:

• Cultural assimilation: The Spanish conversion efforts and imposition of European norms resulted in the dilution of Indigenous cultures. Religious forces, such as the Catholic Church, demanded complete conversion and attempted to suppress native traditions.
• Population decline: Indigenous peoples suffered greatly from Old World diseases brought by the Europeans, to which they had no immunity. This resulted in catastrophic declines in Native American populations.
• Political instability: The conquest by Spanish conquistadors disrupted existing Indigenous governing structures, leading to political turmoil and conflict. European colonization efforts often resulted in opposition and resistance from the native populations.

While economic prosperity might have been realized by the European colonizers, for the Native American peoples, it was more often a depletion of resources and exploitation for the benefit of the colonizers, rather than prosperity.