Christopher Columbus was far from perfect, but he was no anthrax-spreader, says a new study. It was previously thought that European explorers inadvertently introduced the anthrax disease to American Indians. However, National Geographic News writes that a new study published in the journal PloS One comes to a different conclusion.
Based on the examination of DNA evidence, the authors of the study believe the disease was present in America long before Columbus and spread from north to south, not vice versa as was assumed in the original theory. Specifically, they now think that the disease (which has its origins in Africa and the Middle East) was brought over with the very first Americans from Asia and over the Bering land bridge 13,000 years ago. These ancients probably found and ate the carcasses of animals who had died from the disease.
Columbus’ reputation is tainted enough without the Anthrax claim, however. Modern sensibilities are outraged when they find out that the discoverer of America ruthlessly enslaved American Indians. Even during his own time, he was considered a tyrannical governor. But even though he and his contemporary explorers did spread other diseases like measles and smallpox to the New World, it’s important to remember that historians don’t consider them bioterrorists. They didn’t do so intentionally and weren’t even aware of it (though historians suspect that others intentionally spread smallpox centuries later).
Likewise, it’s thought the European explorers brought syphilis back to the Old World after contracting it from American Indians. So, before pointing fingers, keep in mind that the spread of disease was a two-way street.
More articles you might like:
Did the Chinese Beat Columbus to America?
How DNA Evidence Works
How Anthrax Works
Posted in Stuff You Missed in History Class Tagged: anthrax, columbus, disease, dna, smallpox
