[Homer_J_Simpson]

Was smallpox endemic to North America in the 1480’s? I thought it was imported by the evil white man beginning in 1492.

[norton]

According to the, often tedious, timeline set out by Charles Mann in "1491", the pox hit SA around 1519 via the Caribbean. From that point onward he sees pox as the major factor in European expansion into the new world.

Oh, and mesoamerican/pre-colombian cultures were really vast and often quite advanced while Europeans didn't bathe too very much.

Please note the "often tedious" part but it's not a bad read if you bookmark a lot.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Was smallpox endemic to North America in the 1480’s? I thought it was imported by the evil white man beginning in 1492.

Retraction already printed. Smallpox hit Mexico beginning around 1521 when the Spaniards finally conquered the Aztecs. The Aztecs probably contracted the disease from eating Spanish captives during the conflict or from being in contact with the Spaniards period. I knew better.