0Machu Picchu, Peru
19th October 2007
A pivotal moment
When Europeans invaded the Americas, one of the critical factors in their victory was the devastating impact European diseases like smallpox had on the indigenous populations, perhaps killing up to 95% of the population. Oddly enough, when Europeans (or people of European decent) visit these parts of the Americas now, their bodies are ravaged by illnesses you’d think they were resistant to (though admittedly, gastro and its variants can get you anywhere).