Evaluate the impact of European settlements on the indigenous peoples of the region.

Candidates are required to make an appraisal of the impact of European settlements on the indigenous peoples in the region. There may be different approaches to this question and an appraisal could be achieved by considering the changing nature of the impact over time. There may be consideration of positive and negative effects of the settlements, or of whether social, economic or political effects were greater. European settlements could include those of the Spanish, Portuguese, French, Dutch and British and candidates may choose to focus on one in depth or have a broader discussion of several. The social impact may be considered to have encompassed the impact of missionaries on society and the impact on education, language and culture. Economic effects may include the issue of international trade and exploitation of resources. Political effects could refer to rebellions and the demise of local leaders.