lack of immunities
In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, Europeans were deeply engaged in exploration, colonization, and the expansion of trade networks, driven by a desire for new resources and territories. This period saw the rise of powerful nation-states and the establishment of colonial empires, particularly by Spain, Portugal, England, France, and the Netherlands. The era also marked significant cultural and scientific advancements, as well as the spread of ideas during the Renaissance and the Reformation. However, these developments often came at a great cost to indigenous populations through conquest, disease, and exploitation.
A disease common among hat makers in the seventeenth century was caused by their direct contact with mercury, which was used in the process of felting wool to make hats. Prolonged exposure to mercury vapors led to neurological symptoms known as "mad hatter's disease," characterized by tremors, cognitive decline, and mood changes. This occupational hazard highlighted the dangers of toxic substances in industrial processes of the time.
Frank Fritz is sick with Crohn's Disease. Frank is part of the duo on American Pickers. He has said he had the disease for over a quarter of a century.
The "Black Death" or bubonic plague swept Europe in the 14th Century, over 200 years before Shakespeare's time. Although plague outbreaks were common in the 16th and 17th century, the disease had mutated and was at that time "pneumonic plague" which had different symptoms. One disease that swept Europe during the sixteenth century was Syphilis, a sexually transmitted disease which sailors brought back from the Americas.
Smallpox qualifies as such. It killed off more than 25-50 million people, leaving Mexico with only 1-2 million by 1550.
Probably, prevailing had less to do with things that people can be proud of, than the effects of bringing a different outlook, technology and immunity to the native peoples, who were living a stone age life. Guns. Disease. Treaties that the Indians understood as lending the land, not selling it.
In the early seventeenth century, life in the Chesapeake region, particularly in Virginia and Maryland, was characterized by the establishment of tobacco as a cash crop, which drove the economy and led to the demand for labor. The population was diverse, with a mix of English settlers, indentured servants, and, increasingly, enslaved Africans. The social structure was hierarchical, with wealthy landowners at the top and a growing class of poor laborers. Additionally, conflicts with Indigenous peoples and harsh living conditions, including disease and food shortages, were significant challenges for settlers.
In the sixteenth century, Europeans found cheap labor for work in the New World primarily through the use of enslaved Africans, as the indigenous populations were decimated by disease and violence. The transatlantic slave trade began to expand significantly during this period, providing a steady supply of enslaved laborers for plantations and mines. Additionally, some Europeans also utilized indentured servitude, where individuals would work for a set number of years in exchange for passage to the New World.
It is estimated that a significant number of African-American children on plantations during the era of slavery did not reach their sixteenth birthday, with some estimates suggesting that as many as 50% died in childhood due to harsh living conditions, malnutrition, and disease. The exact numbers vary by region and time period, but the high mortality rate reflected the brutal realities of plantation life. Many children faced extreme hardships that severely impacted their health and survival.
Disease , this is the right answer for apex (:
it was a disease palgue from the old century
Harsh climates, disease and hostile Native-American tribes are the main factors that slowed or inhibited settlement among Florida and Mexico until the 19th century.