5 ways European contact

was devastating for the

indigenous peoples of the
Americas

#1 - Epidemics
Europeans brought infectious diseases with
them
Indigenous peoples immune systems had no
resistance
Measles, small pox, flu and the plague

#2 - Massacres
In central and south America, conquistadors
destroyed Aztec and Inca civilizations.
They did this in a very violent way,
slaughtering men, women and children.

#3 Forced Labour
Indigenous people used as
slaves in gold and silver mines
Slaves were mistreated and
were often worked to death
So many died, they started to
bring slaves over from Africa
12-20 million slaves were
brought over to work in mines
and on plantations over 300
years

#4 Economic Dependence
Mother country (in Europe)
imported raw materials from the
colonies, processed them, and
sold them back to the colonies as
manufactured goods

Indigenous people become

accustomed to European tools,
weapons, etc.
They became economically
dependent on the Europeans
and thus lost their existing way
of life
i.e. Nomadic to sedentary

#5 Cultural Loss
Europeans imposed their own
value systems and religion on
the indigenous peoples of the
Americas
This led to profound changes
in their cultures languages
for example (think Spanish in
central and south America)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncgFQAISaGo