The Pathology of Conquest

Linda A. Newson

Department of Geography

King’s College London

Spread of smallpox in the 1518 outbreak (Cook 2000)

  Region Initial population

Population nadir or at end date

Dates Ratio

Central Mexico

Highlands 11,226,336 852,244 1532-1608 13.18: 1

  Lowlands 5,645,072 217,011 1532-1608 26.02:1

Ecuador Highlands 838,600 164,529 1520-1600 5.1:1

  Coastal lowlands

546,828-571,828

26,491 1520-1600 21.1:1

Central Andes

Sierra 4,641,200 1,349,190 1520/5-1571 3.4:1

  Coast 7,498,298 129,281 1520/25-1571 58:1

 

Albrecht Dürer, The Syphilitic (1496)