What was Columbus' Factor on Native American Depopulation - Assignment Example

This made it easy for Columbus and subsequent expeditions to explore the outlying areas and opened ways for Europeans settlers. 2) Look at the status of Native Americans in 1491, before the arrival of Columbus. How were things? Unlike the general academic views, the Native Americans before the arrival of Columbus were thriving civilizations. They had the knowledge and harnessed technologies that were more advance than the Europeans. They existed in walled cities and towns; created organized living systems; and were well versed in the science of farming by harnessing the landscapes around them.

They grew maize, fruits, nuts, and hunted wild bison, elks. They became keystone species in the ecosystem. They built empires using the age-old knowledge descended from the Sumerians. They were pure and free from diseases.  In fact, modern scientists believe that the Native Americans were prosperous and more populous than Columbus led us to believe. The population however started to dwindle because of several factors including epidemics, disease brought in by the European expeditions, natural death, war, and ignorance of the new lifestyle brought about by the Europeans.