The Martian Chronicles

In The Martian Chronicles, by Ray Bradbury, the colonization of Mars is extremely similar to other colonizations throughout history. It is however, most like the Spanish conquest of the Americas. There are many similarities, most noticeably the blinding sense of superiority of the conquering force, and the effect of introduced disease on the colony. Just as the Spanish forces had massacred natives because they believed the natives were barbarians, the human forces conquering Mars also had an overwhelming sense of superiority. However, this cost the lives of the second human expedition. This superiority showed itself again later while Mars was being conquered in greater numbers, with the destruction of` Martian cities, or the renaming of Martian landmarks. Also whether coincidence or not, just as in the Spanish invasion, the native peoples died mostly because of disease introduced by the invaders. These factors, plus countless others makes this a story very similar to that of the Spanish conquest of the Americas.