When the Europeans began to move into North America they found a land that was sparsely populated. Some people claim that European diseases killed of the locals. We know that happened when Cortez was fighting the Aztecs. We know there were times that it effected tribes in what is now the United States. That does not explain why there were so few Indians to kill off. Where did they go?
Think about it.
The scholars believe that the first men came to North America across a land or ice bridge connecting Siberia with Alaska. Let’s accept that as a working hypothesis. Go with me on this. They came across, what, 30,000 years ago? My seventh grade text book says from 15,000 to 40,000 years ago. Pick a number. Within a historically short period of time they spread all the way down to the tip of South America.
We tend to think in isolated bits and pieces. What was the condition of Europe at the same time? My guess is that there were also no men in Europe. The movement from Asia and Africa came much later. So we start with two continents empty of men. Jump forward to 1492. Europe has masses of people. Europe has large cities. Europe has Universities and factories. Europe is expanding in the world. Keep in mind that we are talking about the same range in time. Europe with population pressure. North America almost empty. Europe with steel, gunpowder and ships that can cross an ocean. North America with flints, bows and canoes.
Where Did All the Indians Go?
To be continued...
homo unius libri
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