[org.whodat]

All these civilizations were wiped out by diseases after contact between the "old" and "new" worlds, but were already very old at that time.

WRONG, many of these so-called civilizations were gone long before this time. I think that's why they call them lost.

[Fawnn]

...many of these so-called civilizations were gone long before this time. I think that's why they call them lost.

I suspect it's all a part of a great conspiracy! I think they got "lost" because of an intentional bureaucratic cover-up. The world depends on experts! The delicate balance of the environmental movement would have been destroyed had word got out that Amazonica thrived until their government banned smoking and starting importing French bottled water, wine, pastries, cheese, and, worst of all, perfumes.

[John Valentine]

I object to your use of the condescending term "so-called", but you are right is one sense; I never should have used the term "all". There were many civilzations that rose and fell in the millenia before contact.

I was actually referring to the civilzations in existence at contact. They ALL fell before smallpox, measles, viral hepatitis, and a few more diseases they could not resist.

This tragic outcome of contact is not the fault of the Europeans. It was something that was bound to happen sooner or later.

The result would have been identical if New World explorers had "discovered" the Old World, and taken the pathogens back with them.