One caveat that needs to be mentioned that in both of the Americas before the 'invaders' many indigenous tribes were constantly at war with one another. Many areas started to crash and the leaders looked for other areas to overtake and build up their economy. The book "1491" isn't just about one year but the history of the areas (mostly S. America) and what anthropologists have learned. There was another about a place called "The White City" that also went into this. No place humans have habitated are free from violence. I think we also need to remember there is really no such thing as 'indigenous' unless, of course, one is from the Great Rift in Africa.

@JackPedigo I understand that...I’m not uninformed about how humans have evolved from the Rift Valley, which makes us all African in origin. What I’m talking about is from that time when the European super states began competing with each to circumnavigate the world and colonise, the “New World”, where they dominated and imposed European mores and values on, what was by that time in history, the “indigenous” people’s of both North and South America.

@Marionville Sorry, I might have sent a wrong message. Of course the European invaders were the worst of all and we can all thank the 'superior' technology of the time. Too many of us subscribe to techno-magic to save us but often it does just the opposite. Also, the disease the invaders brought were a prime cause of everything that happened. I just wanted another view. You know how I am about looking at different sides.