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Impact of European Diseases on Indigenous Populations

European diseases are often considered to be very dangerous to local people. The theory of those indigenous people dying because of the reason of being biologically weak was not the only factor of deaths. Indigenous people did not entirely die from European diseases for the reason that they were biologically weak but because they were vulnerable for environmental changes and forced settlements. These external causes, led by colonization, created the ideal conditions for the rapid spread of diseases to countries.

Environmental Changes and New Diseases

The resilience of indigenous people was quite weakened by Europeans’ colonization attempts which eventually led to environmental changes. They introduced new crops and livestock like pigs, and it influenced local ecosystems and brought new diseases. For example, this can be seen in the outbreaks when Christopher Columbus, in 1493, traveled to the Americas, island of Hispaniola. In there, the excess number of pigs contributed to the creation of influenza epidemic. This was the disease that contributed to the vast decline of the population throughout the history, and thus influenza may have become an endemic disease, spreading endlessly in the region due to the environmental changes brought by European colonization.

Forced Settlements and Disease Spread

European colonization also had its influence on populations by the forced settlements that further exposed them to diseases. The colonial policy of Spanish called “congregación” was a distinguished factor in the spread of disease. The requirements of this settlement required people to leave their traditional homes and move into new land that are often run by Franciscan missionaries. Under this policy, forced settlements not only disrupted their traditional way of life but also created environments where diseases could spread easily.

Moreover, in Florida, Spanish settlers forced indigenous groups into strictly controlled settlements. Since the early 16th century, these people were exposed to new diseases brought by Europeans, including smallpox, measles and typhus. A mix of involuntarily relocations and European-imposed changes to agriculture and resolution patterns also created ideal conditions for the spread of infectious diseases, leading to catastrophic declines in the number of the population.

Conclusion

The vast number of deaths among indigenous populations were not solely due to biological weaknesses but were mostly impacted by environmental changes and forced settlements. The arrival of new livestock, ecosystem and relocation policies like “congregación” created complicated conditions for people to survive the diseases. Starting from the 15th century, Europe began its expansion into the Americas, bringing new ecosystems, technologies and diseases. This historical period of exploration and colonization has led to destructive consequences for the indigenous populations, with many people suffering and dying from diseases. Diseases spread very quickly and became the reason of massive death numbers, often considered as natural biological vulnerability of the native people.