‘Columbus sailed for India
‘Found Salvador instead
‘He shook hands with some Indians and soon they all were dead
‘They got TB and typhoid and athlete’s foot
‘Diphtheria and the flu
‘Excuse me, great nations coming through’
The song “The Great Nations of Europe” by Randy Newman highlights the destructive potential of introducing pathogens into a culture lacking immunity. This was evident during the 16th century when the Aztecs, despite their numerical superiority, succumbed to the smallpox virus brought by the Spaniards, to whom they had no prior exposure. The consequence was a devastating population loss.
In the realm of evolutionary psychology, scholars have long acknowledged the significance of people in groups striving to ward off diseases. Our distant ancestors, when encountering unfamiliar tribes, often viewed them with suspicion and caution. These innate tendencies persist within us to some extent today and become particularly pronounced in times of public health crises, as currently witnessed with the coronavirus pandemic.
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