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The missing plague that could have changed history

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When European colonizers came to American shores, the plague they brought with them killed almost 90% of the indigenous population. But why was there no existing plague in the "New World" that affected Europeans?

CGP Grey explains in this video about the missing "Americapox."


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Additional Resources for you to Explore
Watch Part 2 of CGP Grey's series on this topic: Animal Domestication
CGP Grey based this video on the book Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond
TED-Ed: The Past, Present and Future of Bubonic Plague
History.com: Black Death
American Museum of Natural History: Domestication Timeline
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About TED-Ed Best of Web

TED-Ed Best of Web are exceptional, user-created lessons that are carefully selected by volunteer teachers and TED-Ed staff.

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