How were native Americans treated by some of the explorers?

Native Americans were often treated poorly by some of the explorers. The explorers often saw them as inferior and did not respect their culture or traditions. Hernan Cortes, who conquered the Aztec Empire, enslaved and killed thousands of Native Americans. Christopher Columbus, who is credited with discovering America, enslaved and tortured many Native Americans. Bartolome de las Casas, a Spanish missionary who witnessed the treatment of Native Americans by the Spanish, wrote a book denouncing the cruelties committed against them.

Here are some specific examples of how Native Americans were treated by some of the explorers:

* Columbus and his men enslaved and tortured Native Americans. They also forced them to convert to Christianity.

* Hernan Cortes and his men massacred thousands of Native Americans. They also enslaved many of them and forced them to work in the gold mines.

* Francisco Pizarro and his men conquered the Inca Empire and killed the emperor, Atahualpa. They also enslaved many of the Incas and forced them to work in the silver mines.

* John Smith and the other English settlers at Jamestown, Virginia, had a tense relationship with the Powhatan Confederacy. They fought several wars against each other, and the English settlers often kidnapped and enslaved Native Americans.

* The Puritans who settled in New England also had a tense relationship with the Native Americans. They fought several wars against each other, and the Puritans often killed and displaced Native Americans.

The treatment of Native Americans by some of the explorers was a tragedy that had a lasting impact on the indigenous peoples of the Americas.