What resulted in the deaths of approximately a third of the Native American Population during de Soto's exploration?

Question

Warfare
Enslavement
Relocation
Disease

Answer 1

The deaths of approximately a third of the Native American population during Hernán de Soto's exploration were primarily due to disease. European explorers and conquistadors brought with them diseases such as smallpox, influenza, and others to which Native Americans had no immunity, leading to significant mortality rates among Indigenous populations. While warfare and enslavement also contributed to the decline of Native American populations during this period, disease was the predominant factor in the rapid population decrease.