TLDR;
The video explores the mysterious disease, cocoliztli, that decimated the Aztec population in the 16th century. It examines historical context, symptoms, and recent DNA evidence suggesting Salmonella Paratyphi C as a potential cause, exacerbated by drought and the overall impact of European colonization. The video also touches on other factors contributing to the Aztec decline, such as smallpox and human sacrifice, while highlighting the broader impact of European diseases on native populations in the Americas.
- Cocoliztli, a devastating disease, struck the Aztecs in the 16th century, causing widespread death.
- Recent DNA evidence suggests Salmonella Paratyphi C as a potential cause, possibly introduced by Europeans.
- Drought conditions and the overall impact of European colonization worsened the effects of the disease.
Introduction: The Enigmatic Illness of the Aztecs [0:00]
Researchers have long been puzzled by the disease that swept through the Aztec population in the mid-16th century. Initially, it was assumed that the Aztecs were wiped out by European diseases like smallpox or measles. However, recent DNA testing has revealed new evidence about the true nature of the epidemic. The video aims to explore the mysterious disease that nearly wiped out the Aztecs.
The Aztec Civilization [0:47]
From 1300 to 1521, the Aztecs thrived in central Mexico, with their empire starting as a confederation of three city-states: Tetzcoco, Tlacopan, and Tenochtitlan. Aztec society was divided between the nobility (pipiltin) and commoners (macehualtin). Their religious life included gods like Quetzalcoatl, Tezcatlipoca, and Tlaloc, and their daily activities involved maize cultivation and a 365-day calendar system. The Aztecs had an equal educational system for both boys and girls, with instruction tailored to their gender. The Aztec Empire reached its peak in 1519, coinciding with their first contact with Spanish conquistadors led by Hernan Cortez.
The Cocoliztli Epidemics [2:17]
Between 1519 and 1520, the Aztecs faced a smallpox epidemic that killed five to eight million people. From 1545 to 1550, a deadly outbreak of a disease called cocoliztli, meaning "pest" in Nahuatl, killed 5 to 15 million people. The disease was lethal within three to four days, causing high fever and bleeding from the eyes, nose, and mouth. A second epidemic of cocoliztli struck between 1576 and 1578, killing an additional 2 to 2.5 million people, about 50% of the remaining native population. Survivors faced eight smaller outbreaks over the next six decades.
Theories and Discoveries About Cocoliztli [3:47]
Scientists have long tried to determine the cause of cocoliztli, with theories ranging from Ebola to diseases brought by Spanish explorers. In January 2018, new evidence indicated that at least some of the Aztec population died from a strain of salmonella called Paratyphi C. German scientists discovered this by studying DNA from the teeth of 29 skeletons in Mexico. The salmonella variant presents as typhoid fever and could have been spread through food, water, or rodents.
The Role of European Colonization and Salmonella [5:40]
European explorers introduced diseases like smallpox and measles to native populations, and they are likely to blame for the salmonella plague. Skeletons of Aztec people buried before the arrival of the Spanish showed no evidence of the bacteria, while the bacteria has been found in Europe, including in the DNA of a Norwegian woman from 1200 CE. The Spanish likely introduced the bacteria to Mexico, given its severe impact on the Aztec population.
Climate Conditions and Other Contributing Factors [6:53]
The impact of cocoliztli was worsened by a mega-drought between 1545 and 1576, the worst drought Mexico had experienced in over 600 years. The disease was notably absent from warmer, wetter areas like the Gulf of Mexico. Additionally, many Aztecs were killed through human sacrifice, with some scholars estimating as many as 20,000 people ritually slain each year. A tower of 650 skulls, including those of women and children, was found in Mexico City, revealing the extent of these sacrifices.
Symptoms and Ongoing Research [8:38]
Francisco Hernandez, the physician of King Philip II of Spain, described the symptoms of the disease as fever, headaches, vertigo, dark urine, black tongue, nodules on the neck and face, neurological problems, and bleeding from the eyes, nose, and mouth. However, these symptoms do not align perfectly with any one known disease, and a salmonella infection does not explain the facial bleeding. The salmonella theory is based on DNA from a limited number of individuals, and more burial sites need to be tested. It is possible that the Aztecs were affected by multiple conditions or something still unknown to modern medicine.
The Broader Impact on Native Populations [10:29]
Regardless of the exact cause of the Aztec population decline, they were not the only native population to suffer from devastating diseases. Prior to the arrival of Europeans, North America was largely free of aggressive diseases like smallpox. Diseases spread on trade routes, and Europeans often found empty villages, as Native Americans had already been killed off by diseases to which they had no immunity. While the precise identity of the disease that ravaged the Aztecs remains uncertain, Europeans played a significant role in its spread and impact.
