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Difficulty: MediumThe Columbian Exchange

Source: Pedro de Cieza de León, Spanish chronicler and soldier, *The Chronicles of Peru*, 1553.

'In past times, before the Spaniards entered this kingdom, there was a very great population along the valleys of the coast... but since the Spaniards entered and the native inhabitants died off, especially during the great pestilence that occurred when the Inca ruler Huayna Capac was alive, the majority of the valleys are now nearly deserted. The land is fertile and abundant, yet there are few left to cultivate it or to enjoy the great quantities of fruit, maize, and other crops that grow here. In these times, the indigenous peoples are so diminished in number that many valleys have lost almost their entire population, and only ruins of their former towns remain.'

Which of the following best explains the demographic decline described in the passage?

  1. A
    The widespread use of superior military technology, such as firearms and steel armor, by Spanish conquistadors
  2. B
    The forced migration and labor conditions associated with the growth of the transatlantic slave trade
  3. The lack of prior exposure and immunity among Indigenous populations to pathogens introduced from Afro-EurasiaAnswer
  4. D
    The disruption of long-distance land-based trade routes that previously connected South American empires to East Asian markets

Answer

The correct answer is the option stating that the demographic decline was caused by the lack of prior exposure and immunity among Indigenous populations to pathogens introduced from Afro-Eurasia.
The correct answer is correct because Native American populations had been geographically isolated from Afro-Eurasian disease pools for thousands of years. Consequently, they had no acquired immunities to infectious diseases such as smallpox and measles that Europeans brought with them. The resulting epidemics decimated populations, often spreading ahead of physical contact with Europeans, as described in the passage.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the stimulus to identify the cause of the depopulation described.
The passage attributes the depopulation to a 'great pestilence' that occurred before the Spaniards arrived.
This establishes that the decline was biological rather than military.
2
Connect the 'pestilence' to the historical context of the Columbian Exchange.
The Columbian Exchange involved the transfer of biological agents, including diseases, between hemispheres.
This helps identify the primary cause of Native American susceptibility.
3
Evaluate the options to find the one that correctly identifies the biological vulnerability.
The correct choice highlights the lack of prior exposure and immunity to Afro-Eurasian pathogens.
This directly addresses the historical biological isolation of the Americas.

Key Concept

The Columbian Exchange
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

The Columbian Exchange

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