Colonization Of The Americas
When Christopher Columbus, John Cabot, and some of the other explorers of the 15th century found a new continent, it must have felt like the dawn of a new age. After all, this was a new utopia that adventurous Europeans could call their new home.
There was only one problem, however. This land already had indigenous inhabitants. As a result, over the following centuries, the maritime Europeans brought on a vast number of death tolls to what we now call North and South America.
But even though war and invasion account for a hefty chunk of many losses, the natives’ lack of immunity to the diseases the Europeans brought with them caused the most casualties.
Some research states that about 80% of the Native American population passed away due to coming in contact with Europeans.