Collapse of Central Mexico's Indigenous Population, 1520–1600

The Native population plummeted from ~25 million to ~1 million due to:

• Disease: Smallpox, measles, influenza spread by Spaniards, decimating communities.
• Warfare: Spanish conquest battles killed millions.
• Famine: Disrupted agriculture and livestock loss caused starvation.
• Forced Labor: Harsh mining conditions led to high mortality.
• Cultural Genocide: Suppression of languages, religions, traditions destabilized societies.

The demographic catastrophe reshaped the region permanently.