Expert: Ralph Salier - 10/5/2006

Question
Many Native Americans died after the Spanish invasion because of  

loss of homes?

loss of pride?

starvation?

disease?

Answer
Hi Cassie,

Disease was a primary factor.  The Spanish brought with them things like the Measels, Pertusus, Cholera, Typhoid and other nasty stuff and the Native Americans had no native immunity to any of these.  

In addition, when these cultures were decimated by disease, this lead to a general break down of  the society and food production suffered. Thus starvation was a contributory factor as was loss of societal structures.  

Loss of pride and homes came much later with the American Colonies, the British and the American move westward in addition to the other factors.