The Great Dying

The Great Dying

 After the invasion of the Europeans, the Americas were exposed to unknown to them diseases.

 Native America
The Population in the Western Hemisphere was 60-80 million people.  Most of the people lived in Mesoamerican and Andean zones. These areas were dominated by the Aztec and Inca empires. They were not immuned to diseases such as smallpox, measles, typhus, influenza, malaria, and yellow fever.

When they came in contact with these European and African diseases, they died in large numbers. Some say these diseases killed off 90% of the population.

The Dutch reported that New York area lost 9 out of 10 people.
Plymouth colony reported that Massachusetts area was being wiped out.  Governor Bradford stated, "good hand of God sweeping away great multitudes of the natives that he might make room for us" (Strayer p. 560).

Caribbean Islands
People of the Caribbean Islands were densely settled.  However, they all vanished within fifty years after Columbus's arrival.

 Central Mexico
The population in Central Mexico was between 10-20 million people.  After the Spanish conquest, it declined to only 1 million.

Little Ice Age
The Great Dying of that time had a global impact.  Scholars determined that it was due to demographics collapse of the Americas.  Farm land and forests were no longer maintained and were deserted.   According to Strayer, "These changes sparked a resurgence of plant life, which in turn took large amounts of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, out of the atmosphere, contributing to global cooling."  The world was experiencing record cooling temperatures.

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