Which of the following best explains the widespread decline in Indigenous populations after the arrival of Spanish conquistadors?(1 point)

Responses

disease and environmental changes
disease and environmental changes

natural disasters
natural disasters

inability to connect with global markets
inability to connect with global markets

fighting and lack of guns

1 answer

The widespread decline in Indigenous populations after the arrival of Spanish conquistadors is best explained by disease and environmental changes. The introduction of new diseases, such as smallpox, to which Indigenous peoples had no immunity, led to significant population declines. Environmental changes due to colonization also had severe impacts on Indigenous lifestyles and populations.