Within 10 years of Columbus too, there were many dozens (hundreds?) of other ships that came over...as he set off kind of an exploration race.
Hundreds of Spanish and Portuguese men—within a very short time—went to the Americas, and came back....with the disease. It wasn’t as if Columbus’ crew itself was responsible...rather the whole open door to a previously isolated world.
The Spanish too, sent whole armies over to explore and conquer (Conquistadors...), and for something like 30+ years NO WOMEN allowed by law. Hence virtually all...who could...had Indian mistresses, or just one night stands.
I heard one Latin American scholar estimate by the late 1500s upwards of 100,000 mestizos existed...considered lessors to the Europeans, and superior to the Indians. Caused ALL KINDS of social problems which continue to exist to this day.
A very different pattern in Latin and Central America than our English colonies later established in the North.
There were SOME European women in the Americas quite early. IIRC some accompanied both Balboa and Cortez, and a fair number were among early settlers of Hispaniola and Cuba.
There were SOME European women in the Americas quite early. IIRC some accompanied both Balboa and Cortez, and a fair number were among early settlers of Hispaniola and Cuba.