Posted on 12/20/2011 1:17:42 PM PST by decimon
mountainous Peruvian terrain didn’t lend itself to the use of wheeled carts
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ok, and what about the rest of the hemisphere?
Have there been any studies of syphilis on the bones of precolmbian Scottish shepherds
Now days, make that "every one, and every THING they ever had sex with.
Veggies, animals, shared "toys", inflatable dolls, Liberals....
“...why wasn’t the disease brought back by others? Chance? WSas it only the Columbus crew that had a sexual encounter with a disease bearer?”
The European predecessors to Columbus were so small in number....far north...and out of touch with mainland Europe (I’m thinking the Vikings under Leif Ericson...or St. Brendan before them) that they weren’t a factor. Columbus opened the door to all of mainstream Europe, through the major monarchs there, to interact with the Americas—unlike any that came before.
Given that the Icelanders (Leif Ericson) immediately established tiny colonies of families on Newfoundland...it’s possible too, with their wives there...that the men didn’t have sex with the Indian women...or if they did, the northern tribes didn’t have the STD’s of the Caribbean.
I don’t see why its such a touchy subject...STD’s are just a disease—and different diseases originate different places. The fact that new FLU strains almost always comes out of China today...doesn’t say the Chinese are any worse (or better) people than anyone else.
Differences in settlement patterns too. The Spanish and Portuguese, due to the perceived danger in the New World, refused to send women over (unlike the Vikings)...to establish regular colonies—this is why very (very) early Spanish and Portuguese mixed, sexually with the Indians—as they had no women with them.
Human nature...oh well.
Within 10 years of Columbus too, there were many dozens (hundreds?) of other ships that came over...as he set off kind of an exploration race.
Hundreds of Spanish and Portuguese men—within a very short time—went to the Americas, and came back....with the disease. It wasn’t as if Columbus’ crew itself was responsible...rather the whole open door to a previously isolated world.
The Spanish too, sent whole armies over to explore and conquer (Conquistadors...), and for something like 30+ years NO WOMEN allowed by law. Hence virtually all...who could...had Indian mistresses, or just one night stands.
I heard one Latin American scholar estimate by the late 1500s upwards of 100,000 mestizos existed...considered lessors to the Europeans, and superior to the Indians. Caused ALL KINDS of social problems which continue to exist to this day.
A very different pattern in Latin and Central America than our English colonies later established in the North.
They don’t know how it spreads?
Except, of course, for Anthropogenic Global Warming. That is Received dogma and cannot be altered by evidence or proof.
About thirty years ago I remember reading about the remains of a mummified bear, 7000 years old, found in Missouri. This bear had syphyllis.
Such a disease can be a blood-borne infection. It is entirely possible for a disease to have originated with animals, spread by biting and scratching, and end up with humans infected through non-sexual means.
I’m suggesting it as a possibility.
Here were all these Chinese, sitting around in North America, enjoying a good bowl of moo goo gai pan when the Europeans came along. You think we bought Manhattan from the Chinese for twenty four bucks? Wait til you see what they charge us to buy our country back from them.
There were SOME European women in the Americas quite early. IIRC some accompanied both Balboa and Cortez, and a fair number were among early settlers of Hispaniola and Cuba.
There were SOME European women in the Americas quite early. IIRC some accompanied both Balboa and Cortez, and a fair number were among early settlers of Hispaniola and Cuba.
I said I didn’t buy it! Another factor given is that there were few pack animals available, though South American tribes has llamas. A wheelbarrow type device or small cart still seems useful to even plains Indians. Who knows?
The wheel was developed but never put to any practical use as there were no beasts of burden to pull carts.
It was sort of in the same category as the Greek steam engine, there but not useful.
Link please?
nonsense. All mammals are domesticable if you put in the time and effort with a breeding program. Hand carts are pulled by humans. No animals required.
As to all animals being capable of being domesticated... ok, be sure explain how to Sigfried and Roy.
It was still only SOME. This is very unlike the earliest settlers to the North...where women came in copious numbers--and, intermarriage with the Indians was, relative to Latin America, rare.
However, the article claims, "The evidence keeps accumulating that a progenitor of syphilis came from the New World with Columbus' crew and rapidly evolved into the venereal disease that remains with us today."
That's why I questioned as I did.
“Hey white gods, wanna make boom boom with Doris the Diseased?” (heh,heh,heh)
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