4 ms·
"Guns, germs snd Steel" book makes an argument that European population evolved higher levels of immunity to the pathogens because of population density, especi
by mynegation 5y ago
"Guns, germs snd Steel" book makes an argument that European population evolved higher levels of immunity to the pathogens because of population density, especially in the cities.
Population density and wars for land and resources, book argues, also propelled the development of warfare tech ("guns and steel")
- brian_cloutier 5y agoThe book mentions population density but quickly discards population density as the primary factor. Instead it focuses on domesticated animals. Eurasians had many domesticated animals and often lived in close quarters with them. The New World had an extreme paucity of domesticable animals and therefore much less exposure to disease vectors and therefore no major disease capable of wiping out populations. (pg 212-213)
- soapdog 5y agoYes, that is key! The lack of beasts of burden and domesticated animals in the Americas. People often overlook this when talking about "how could a whole continent be wiped out by pox"
- beaconstudios 5y agoDidn't Tenochtitlan have a famously-large population for the era?