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iemanja

(57,761 posts)

42. Smallpox was the major epidemic of the Americas

Mon Dec 6, 2021, 04:39 PM

Dec 2021

and came when the Spaniards first reached the Caribbean (late 15th Century), Mexico, and then South America (16th century). It wiped out 90% of the indigenous population overall and almost all of it in the Caribbean.

There is no historical record of an earlier epidemic and certainly not at the time of the Black Death.

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Did the Black Plague, in the 1300's, reach the Americas? [View all] raccoon Dec 2021 OP

Re-read your OP, think about what you said and then..... A HERETIC I AM Dec 2021 #1

It's not really a dumb question. It's really a question of whether those who sailed to the Scrivener7 Dec 2021 #3

I didn't say it was a dumb question... A HERETIC I AM Dec 2021 #4

The Vikings were in edhopper Dec 2021 #23

Regular, cross Atlantic shipping wasn't happening when the plague... A HERETIC I AM Dec 2021 #24

There are many very smart people here with graduate degrees. Irish_Dem Dec 2021 #25

That is absolutely one of the most unique insults anyone has ever directed at me. A HERETIC I AM Dec 2021 #33

The most unique thank you I have ever received. Irish_Dem Dec 2021 #34

I see the distinction edhopper Dec 2021 #35

No but Iberian fisherman were fishing off the coast nt RFCalifornia Dec 2021 #41

There is also speculation that the Chinese sailed around the Americas before Columbus 'discovered' csziggy Dec 2021 #65

That's interesting edhopper Dec 2021 #72

There wasn't really traffic from the rest of the world to the Americas then. Scrivener7 Dec 2021 #2

Was there travel across the Bering Strait or along the Aleutian chain? Klaralven Dec 2021 #5

You seem to know the answer to your question. Scrivener7 Dec 2021 #6

There probably was, but then you have to ask the question DFW Dec 2021 #8

Even if there is/was, no evidence of plague LeftInTX Dec 2021 #16

Probably true. There was likely a lack of rodent vectors in the high arctic. Klaralven Dec 2021 #21

There was back and forth contact wnylib Dec 2021 #22

This may help... secondwind Dec 2021 #7

America wasn't discovered by Europeans until 1492, according to most experts. bearsfootball516 Dec 2021 #9

Have you ever heard of L'Anse aux Meadows? raccoon Dec 2021 #10

You do realize that the whole "Vikings were here first" DenaliDemocrat Dec 2021 #13

I honestly think that's reaching d_r Dec 2021 #15

ditto hlthe2b Dec 2021 #18

It's not though DenaliDemocrat Dec 2021 #29

Because he set sail from England, and was financed by the English muriel_volestrangler Dec 2021 #46

Bullshit DenaliDemocrat Dec 2021 #47

As I said, he sailed from England. You wanted the reason the English form is normally used. muriel_volestrangler Dec 2021 #55

Thanks for whitesplaining DenaliDemocrat Dec 2021 #59

I'm English. There's no problem with me explaining things about English usage muriel_volestrangler Dec 2021 #67

Hmmm DenaliDemocrat Dec 2021 #73

No, I did not literally do that. muriel_volestrangler Dec 2021 #77

Viking settlements are well researched NickB79 Dec 2021 #19

There is no doubt that the Vikings settled in Greenland and traded with the Inuit Klaralven Dec 2021 #20

Greenland is NOT North or South America DenaliDemocrat Dec 2021 #31

Actually, it is. Klaralven Dec 2021 #32

And Newfoundland is not in Greenland either. EX500rider Dec 2021 #39

No it's a part of historical Discovery and fact EX500rider Dec 2021 #26

Nah, it's extremely weak DenaliDemocrat Dec 2021 #30

Not, it's fact and your WashPost article says so EX500rider Dec 2021 #38

Why are you so adamant that is was not olive-skinned people DenaliDemocrat Dec 2021 #48

I prefer my life to be more fact-based thank you EX500rider Dec 2021 #49

Post removed Post removed Dec 2021 #50

It may be speculation to you EX500rider Dec 2021 #51

Well, but it's not. Just like the Kensington Stone DenaliDemocrat Dec 2021 #52

When did Italians become not white? d_r Dec 2021 #53

Um, when Congress passed anti-immigration laws DenaliDemocrat Dec 2021 #60

ok so d_r Dec 2021 #62

Is that when historical consensus was reached on Crunchy Frog Dec 2021 #75

"Internet camps" Act_of_Reparation Dec 2021 #81

No one says Columbus didn't make it to the New World EX500rider Dec 2021 #54

Wikipedia DenaliDemocrat Dec 2021 #64

"Study: Wikipedia as accurate as Britannica" EX500rider Dec 2021 #66

Yes, they did show you, but if you want academic sources ... muriel_volestrangler Dec 2021 #68

Vineland map is a forgery DenaliDemocrat Dec 2021 #76

This is not about the Vineland map. It's about the established archaeology muriel_volestrangler Dec 2021 #78

Seems your Washington Post article was written by racists too. Crunchy Frog Dec 2021 #74

I think that's a stretch Vogon_Glory Dec 2021 #37

Evidence is weak, and likely faked DenaliDemocrat Dec 2021 #71

You may wish to review your claim Vogon_Glory Dec 2021 #79

And here I thought the Native Americans were "here first". Act_of_Reparation Dec 2021 #69

A lot of us were acknowledging that Vogon_Glory Dec 2021 #80

That's really a great point Undue Process Dec 2021 #82

People other than Europeans exist. meadowlander Dec 2021 #40

No LeftInTX Dec 2021 #11

The black plague killed half the population of GemState Dec 2021 #12

Possible that it was already here Philosophizing Fool Dec 2021 #14

It came from rats in the Port of Los Angeles and then it spread to native rodents LeftInTX Dec 2021 #17

there was a large outbreak in the SF Bay Area c. 1900 Retrograde Dec 2021 #27

Thank you both Philosophizing Fool Dec 2021 #58

Plague generally spread along trade routes 300 years later Sympthsical Dec 2021 #28

Not all history is known, and we can't know for sure. So far. Hortensis Dec 2021 #36

Smallpox was the major epidemic of the Americas iemanja Dec 2021 #42

Interesting video that provides something of an answer dsc Dec 2021 #43

Thanks for posting that. Nt raccoon Dec 2021 #56

That was smallpox iemanja Dec 2021 #61

yes and no dsc Dec 2021 #63

In the form of mass insanity, yes. ananda Dec 2021 #44

I don't think we had trade here then, but maybe.. check the story on wiki, (fascinating read) msfiddlestix Dec 2021 #45

It might have been transmitted via 48656c6c6f20 Dec 2021 #57

That is an interesting question melm00se Dec 2021 #70