Disease Exchange Effects on Indigenous Peoples during Colonization
Words: 796 Pages: 3 5397The European-American exchange of infectious diseases following Columbus's discovery of the New World in 1492 led to catastrophic demographic changes among the native populations in the Americas. Before European contact, there were no records of human viral diseases in the Americas, though conditions such as rickettsiasis, pinta, yaws, and syphilis were present. However, the arrival of Europeans marked the beginning of a devastating era characterized by the introduction of new, deadly diseases. This essay explores the impact of these diseases, […]