[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

That’s what I USED TO THINK until I found a massive epidemic similar to Hantavirus destroyed the Indians well before Columbus “sailed the ocean blue”.

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/29/science/don-t-blame-columbus-for-all-the-indians-ills.html

[jimmyray]

As per the article, I was not suggesting that there was no disease in the New World prior to the arrival of Columbus. However simple Research into the writings of the conquistadors will reveal that this country was much more populated there for their arrival then it was 100 years after.

I suggest "1491" by Mann for a start.