Americapox: The Missing Plague
CGP Grey・8 minutes read
European explorers introduced diseases like smallpox, typhus, and cholera to the New World, causing massive casualties and leading to a decrease of over 90% in the indigenous population. The absence of big, interconnected cities and domesticated animals in the New World limited exposure to germs, resulting in fewer plagues compared to the Old World.
Insights
- European explorers introduced deadly diseases like smallpox, typhus, and cholera to the New World, leading to a catastrophic decline in the indigenous population by over 90% between 1492 and the Victorian age.
- The absence of domesticable animals in the New World limited the spread of plagues, as germs originating from animals had fewer opportunities to jump species, unlike in the Old World with its dense, interconnected cities and abundant animal-human interaction.
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Recent questions
Why did the indigenous population in the New World decrease significantly?
Due to diseases brought by European explorers.
What types of diseases were introduced to the New World by European explorers?
Smallpox, typhus, and cholera.
How did plagues impact the population of the New World?
Plagues caused massive casualties.
Why did the New World lack plagues compared to the Old World?
Absence of big, dense, interconnected cities.
How did the lack of domesticable animals in the New World impact the spread of plagues?
Limited exposure to germs and food production.
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Summary
00:00
European diseases decimated New World populations.
- Between 1492 and the Victorian age, the New World's indigenous population decreased by over 90% due to diseases brought by European explorers.
- European explorers introduced diseases like smallpox, typhus, and cholera to the New World, causing tens of millions of deaths.
- Plagues spread quickly between people, killing quickly or making survivors immune, leading to massive casualties.
- The New World lacked plagues, unlike the Old World, due to the absence of big, dense, interconnected cities where diseases could thrive.
- Plagues originate from animals, with germs jumping species being rare but more likely in colonial-age cities with abundant animal-human interaction.
- The Old World had domesticated animals like cows and pigs, facilitating food production, population growth, and city development, leading to the spread of plagues.
- The lack of domesticable animals in the New World limited exposure to germs, food production, population growth, and city development, making plagues almost non-existent.
