The Great Death (2009)
The Great Death: Disease, Environment, Genetics and the Transformation of Mexican Colonial Society
This multidisciplinary workshop detailed the demographic catastrophe that followed the contact of Spanish and original peoples in the territory of present day Mexico. The magnitude of the population loss following the Conquest remains a hotly debated issue. Beyond the historical and Mexico specific interests, the workshop was relevant to contemporary issues. The social, economic and political consequences of a major epidemic, such as AIDS in Africa, an outbreak of avian flu, or even a particularly deadly strain of influenza, has been raised in recent years as a major concern among public health experts and policymakers. The differential causes and the impact of an unprecedented massive mortality on the social, economic, political and spiritual fabric in the distant past should enable a better understanding of the challenges ahead in our modern world.
Conference Materials.
Background Information.
