HIST1055 Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Syphilis, Iroquois, Smallpox
Document Summary
What"s a major reason that the attacks on jamaica and cartagena island had different. Does not just affect civilizations it reshapes them and changes how they see their world. Native populations of america drops ~ 90% (1492-1650) Starvation - people too sick to work, etc. Smallpox: mourning wars and the transformation of the iroquois confederacy. Iroquois is able to make itself more powerful through repeated encounters with smallpox virus. Europe is more densely populated than north america - so periodic smallpox epidemics in europe killed a lot of people but over time produced a population of relative immunity (those susceptible died) If someone dies their role in society needs to be replaced. So iroquois waged war and kidnapped people to spiritually replace the person who was lot. This practice was already in place when disease struck so when it happened they increased and extended this practice. Iroquois also in possession of firearms which only increased their capabilities.
