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Every time i see these I think about Spanish explorers who brought small pox over and caused these cities to collapse, only to return to Spain telling stories o

Every time i see these I think about Spanish explorers who brought small pox over and caused these cities to collapse, only to return to Spain telling stories of jungle cities. Only to have the fleets turn up to dense jungle years later and fine nothing. But yeah, I also think about lost treasure and Indian Jones a lot with these stories.

desdenova 2y ago
Some of those ancient cities disappeared a lot earlier than Spain even existed, though. People likely abandoned them for some unknown reason and moved to other locations, where they'd eventually get wiped out by the Spanish.
- brabel 2y ago
  Exactly, and likely some of these cities were destroyed by rival kingdoms we don't even know existed, if written history in other regions is anything to go by.
- pegasus 2y ago
  Most of the cities disappeared earlier.
coffeecantcode 2y ago
There’s proven to be massive amounts of rare earth metals used by the indigenous populations in that area at that time, so it’s only natural to imagine that finding “lost” or abandoned cities from around that time has the potential to uncover large amounts of rare metals as well, potentially even cities that explain the stories told of cities filled with gold. The original comment didn’t need a history lesson on the Spanish conquests. Replies like yours belong on Reddit, what an insufferable outlook on life and history.
- coffeecantcode 2y ago
  I woke up cranky
tenpies 2y ago
I think you are referencing La aventura del Amazonas by Dominican monk Gaspar de Carvajal. He was one of the survivors of the first European expedition through the Amazon and provides the only account we have of something resembling the pre-European Amazon. He talks about large cities with tall structures, roadworks, and very elaborate societies - nothing compared to our common notion of the Amazonian people. His account was largely dismissed because it was never replicated, but those who believe it to be accurate theorize that this first Expedition unintentionally caused a population collapse by introducing European diseases. You can imagine that by the time other expeditions were organized, it was a completely different place and the jungle would have easily overgrown any abandoned cities. Good starting point: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaspar_de_Carvajal#The_Relación_and_Carvajal's_mark_on_history https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaspar_de_Carvajal#The_Relació...
- gonzo41 2y ago
  This is what a meant yes. I just couldn't find the reference. Thank you.

desdenova 2y ago

Some of those ancient cities disappeared a lot earlier than Spain even existed, though. People likely abandoned them for some unknown reason and moved to other locations, where they'd eventually get wiped out by the Spanish.

brabel 2y ago
Exactly, and likely some of these cities were destroyed by rival kingdoms we don't even know existed, if written history in other regions is anything to go by.
pegasus 2y ago
Most of the cities disappeared earlier.

coffeecantcode 2y ago

There’s proven to be massive amounts of rare earth metals used by the indigenous populations in that area at that time, so it’s only natural to imagine that finding “lost” or abandoned cities from around that time has the potential to uncover large amounts of rare metals as well, potentially even cities that explain the stories told of cities filled with gold. The original comment didn’t need a history lesson on the Spanish conquests. Replies like yours belong on Reddit, what an insufferable outlook on life and history.

coffeecantcode 2y ago
I woke up cranky

tenpies 2y ago

I think you are referencing La aventura del Amazonas by Dominican monk Gaspar de Carvajal. He was one of the survivors of the first European expedition through the Amazon and provides the only account we have of something resembling the pre-European Amazon. He talks about large cities with tall structures, roadworks, and very elaborate societies - nothing compared to our common notion of the Amazonian people. His account was largely dismissed because it was never replicated, but those who believe it to be accurate theorize that this first Expedition unintentionally caused a population collapse by introducing European diseases. You can imagine that by the time other expeditions were organized, it was a completely different place and the jungle would have easily overgrown any abandoned cities. Good starting point: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaspar_de_Carvajal#The_Relación_and_Carvajal's_mark_on_history https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaspar_de_Carvajal#The_Relació...

gonzo41 2y ago
This is what a meant yes. I just couldn't find the reference. Thank you.