Abstract
This chapter examines how the Columbian Exchange decimated the Indian population in the Americas due to a variety of illnesses originating in the Old World. The misfortunes of the Indians began in 1620, when the Pilgrims, religious exiles from England and Holland, set foot at the Massachusetts coast. The Pilgrims became the first Europeans to successfully plant a settlement in New England. Most commentaries at the time of first contact between the Europeans and the Indians describe the latter as healthy, a condition that would change dramatically shortly afterward. Sometime between 1616 and 1617, an unidentified plague wreaked havoc on the Indians and eventually killed close to 90 percent of the coastal population. Timothy L. Bratton concluded that the epidemic was most likely caused by smallpox. The initial ravages of smallpox were followed by a host of new infectious diseases brought by the Europeans, including respiratory ailments, measles, and typhoid, for which the Native Americans had no immunity.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
