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What Killed the Aztecs? Submitted by Marnee on Mon, 2006-07-24 22:50.
Amazing new research shows that a form of native hemorraghic fever, called cocolitzli by the Aztecs, was the likely cause that wiped out the native Mexican populations. This contradicts the popular notion that it was the Europeans that brought the devastating diseases to the New World. "Medical historians insisted that the cause of all this affliction could only have been a European disease. But Acuña-Soto says, "The more I read of the cocolitzli, the more I realized that the descriptions of the disease and its spread did not fit any recognizable epidemiological paradigms." Acuna-Soto's tale of scientific endeavor and reason is worth the read. Also, his research lets the Spanish (and the West) off the hook for the guilt of killing 22 million natives -- people that lived in such abject poverty and primitivism that they essentially had no way of avoiding the disease. It seems the Spanish were able to avoid this plague because of their living standards, an obvious benefit of western civilization.... "With the climate data in place, Acuña-Soto could piece together a convincing explanation of those epidemic years. Cocolitzli had been caused by a hemorrhagic fever virus that had lain dormant in its animal hosts, most likely rodents. Severe drought would have contained the population of rodents, forcing them to hole up wherever they could find water. Initially, only a small percentage may have been infected, but when forced into close quarters the virus was transmitted during bloody fights. Infected mother rodents then passed the virus to their young during pregnancy. When the rains returned, the rodents bred quickly and spread the virus—through their urine and feces—as they came into contact with humans in fields and homes. Once infected, humans transmitted the virus to one another through contact with blood, sweat, and saliva. " "Hemorrhagic viruses affect human populations that are already stressed, Acuña-Soto says. 'The natives were poor and probably near starvation and living in unsanitary conditions where the rats would congregate. They also worked in the fields, where they'd be exposed to the rat droppings. The Spanish made up the upper classes.'"
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No accident!
Most would like to think it wasn't deliberate but I believe in North America Hawaii and NZ they spread the disease by gifting contaminated blankets.Germ warefare was outlawed by the West as soon as they had finished using it.
I'd love to read that.
I'd love to read that. Thanks, Fred!
(Oh and Ross I totall agree with you!)
Marnee
Marnee, if you will contact me privately I'd be happy to send you a complimentary signed copy of Tom Bowden's "The Enemies of Christopher Columbus". I think you'll enjoy it.
http://www.papertig.com/Publishing_Columbus.htm
Certainly it was European
Certainly it was European diseases that killed many but not the millions they were thought to kill. Also, it seems that many natives may have had some immunity to European disease and their own variation of the smallpox that is thought to have come soley from Europe. Of course, the Aztecs had their own diseases, which were not much different from those of the Europe except their living conditions were far worse comparably and that is what ultimately led to their destruction. In the article the researcher makes the claim that even the poverty stricken Mexico of today would have a better chance than the Aztecs.
I should add that this also goes a long way to demystifying the popular notions surrounding the Native American cutlures: they were great peaceful and clever people who only rarely had human sacrifices, were innocent of disease, and, Hey they built the pyramids doncha know? And that the Europeans had nothing of value to offer the New World. Well I dont know about you but I'd take 1500's Europe and a Leonardo painting over the Aztecs' pyramids and their calendars anyday, and for good reason!
Interesting, but what *if*
Interesting, but what if the Spanish, et al, *did* bring the diseases that wiped out American native populations?
In my NZ, the native Maori were similarly devastated by diseases that were most certainly brought by colonists. Same in Australia with the Aborigines.
The multi-culti kaftan wearers seem to think this is genocide. A nefarious plan, conceived in far off lands and sprung on innocents living in a state of natural bliss. Bunkum!
It's called *nature*. Did the Old World complain when sailors brought nasty venereal diseases back from America?
And, if and when the birdflu strikes, will they blame the chooks?