I believe that disease was a key factor, if not the main factor, in the depopulation of Native Americans in the Americas. Over time, inequalities have always existed during the evolution of humanity. Over the course of evolution, different cultures and races have progressed faster and at a greater rate than others. The depopulation of the Native Americans occurred because Europeans had better and more efficient supplies as well as immunities from the diseases they brought with them. As Europeans traveled to the New World, they often brought domesticated animals with them as sources of food and sustenance. cattle. When animals and humans live in close proximity to each other, they are very likely to be exposed to germs. New diseases were introduced by foreigners seeking glory and gold, who killed many of the natives in the new lands. The natives had no chance against these new threats due to the lack of knowledge and materials to heal themselves. Once Europeans established diseases as they landed in the New World, their journey only became easier as their competitors were wiped out by the rapid spread. Microbes from Europe introduced new diseases and produced devastating epidemics that swept away indigenous populations (Nichols 2008). The result of introduced diseases, such as smallpox, was a demographic catastrophe that killed millions, weakened existing societies, and greatly aided the Spanish and Portuguese in their rapid and devastating conquest of existing American empires (Brinkley 2014). Interactions took place with the arrival of whites and foreigners. The first, and perhaps most profound, result of this exchange was imp...... middle of paper...... evils are lost to history and cultural changes are immeasurable ( Snipp 1989). The rapid spread of new diseases has cost millions of lives. The Native Americans didn't stand a chance, as they had no treatment or means to combat these diseases. Works Cited Brinkley, Alan. The Unfinished Nation: A Concise History of the American People. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2014 Diamond, Jared. Guns, germs and steel: the destiny of human societies. New York: WW Norton & Company, 1999. Nichols, L. Roger. The American Indians: Past and Present. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, University Publications Division, 2008. Snipp, C. Matthew. American Indians: the first in this country. Russell Sage Foundation, 1989. Thornton, Russell. Holocaust and Native American Survival: A Population History Since 1492. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, University Publications Division, 1987.