2002, Number 4
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Rev Biomed 2002; 13 (4)
Megadrought and Megadeath in 16th Century Mexico
Acuna-Soto R, Stahle DW, Cleaveland MK, Therrell MD
Language: English
References: 11
Page: 289-292
PDF size: 31.65 Kb.
ABSTRACT
The native population collapse in 16th century Mexico was a demographic catastrophe with one of the highest death rates in history. Recently developed tree-ring evidence has allowed the levels of precipitation to be reconstructed for north central Mexico, adding to the growing body of epidemiologic evidence and indicating that the 1545 and 1576 epidemics of
cocoliztli (Nahuatl for "pest") were indigenous hemorrhagic fevers transmitted by rodent hosts and aggravated by extreme drought conditions.
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