S2 E3 New World Contact Epidemics
The moment of contact between Europe and the Americas in the 15th century brought with it a host of infectious diseases. The result was the spread of epidemics at a scale and speed the world had never known. In this episode, I’ll try to explain how it happened and just how bad it really was.
Show Notes
Related Book Recommendations
Related Websites
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_epidemics
https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/cellular-microscopic/10-oldest-known-diseases.htm
This was a sobering and thought-provoking episode about how devastating the epidemic diseases brought by Europeans were for indigenous peoples of the Americas. It’s mind-numbing to contemplate the impact of 90-95% die-off in a village, much less an entire civilization. Makes me wonder that the native Americans managed to retain anything of their original cultures and traditions. I was intrigued by your comments about what the western hemisphere societies might look like now if such massive death didn’t take place. Indeed, the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse did ride ruthlessly across America! Thanks for your research and ideas. This would be a dynamite Great Courses offering.
Thanks Lennie! I’ve always dreamed of a book that tries to imagine what the world would be like with the Inca and Aztecs still in it today. With the success of your Lady Yohl Ik’Nal series, you’d be a perfect author to pen one!
Wow Ed,
I am kind of used to being brought up to tears (of surprise or joy or emotion) by your lectures, but your podcast on epidemics in the Americas really surprised me, I live in Mexico and have visited many of the archeological sites that you talk about, but this time I was left in shock, I will have to (gladly) reconsider what I’ve learned about those conquests. A delightful podcast, thanks a lot!
Thank you Ed. Your lectures and podcasts always prompt me to want to learn more, to broaden my knowledge. I always look forward to the next one.
Although medical science has developed vaccines to combat the physical diseases brought to the Americas by Europeans, it has yet to find a cure for that other plague which was foisted onto the unfortunate inhabitants and which infects all of us still: patriarchal monotheism.