[cubano]

Isn't a devastating, long-term drought a recent and popular theory as well, decimating many Central and South American tribes such as the Mayans and the Aztec?

[1]http://science.time.com/2012/11/09/mayans/

[duaneb]

I believe the drought predated contact by ~7-800 years. Definitely explains the decline of the Mayans, but not really relevant to discussing the effects of Columbian contact.

[big_youth]

The Aztec were destroyed by the spanish, particularly Hernán Cortés.