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Volume 8, Number 4—April 2002
Historical Review

Megadrought and Megadeath in 16th Century Mexico

Rodolfo Acuna-Soto*, David W. Stahle†Comments to Author , Malcolm K. Cleaveland†, and Matthew D. Therrell†
Author affiliations: *Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico; †University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA;

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Figure 1

The 16th-century population collapse in Mexico, based on estimates of Cook and Simpson (1). The 1545 and 1576 cocoliztli epidemics appear to have been hemorrhagic fevers caused by an indigenous viral agent and aggravated by unusual climatic conditions. The Mexican population did not recover to pre-Hispanic levels until the 20th century.

Figure 1. The 16th-century population collapse in Mexico, based on estimates of Cook and Simpson (1). The 1545 and 1576 cocoliztli epidemics appear to have been hemorrhagic fevers caused by an indigenous viral agent and aggravated by unusual climatic conditions. The Mexican population did not recover to pre-Hispanic levels until the 20th century.

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References
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Page updated: July 15, 2010
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