What impact did the Hernando de Soto expedition have on the mound builders?
A) the Spanish, with their superior weaponry, defeated the mound builders in a protracted, four-year war
B) these Spaniards may have inadvertently introduced smallpox and other infectious diseases against which Native Americans possessed no immunity, resulting in epidemics and a dramatic reduction in native population
C) it was de Soto and his men who introduced the idea of constructing mounds in the first place
D) none; mound-builder culture had already collapsed before the arrival of the de Soto expedition

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Hernando de Soto expedition likely introduced infectious diseases to the mound builders, which resulted in epidemics and a decline in the native population. There is no evidence of a prolonged war, and de Soto did not introduce the idea of mound-building to this culture. Additionally, mound-builder culture had not completely collapsed before the arrival of the de Soto expedition.

What Impact Did the Hernando De Soto Expedition Have on the Mound