Ecology, Epidemics, and Empire

Ecology, Epidemics, and Empire The current brief is a reaction to the article Ecology, Epidemics, and Empires: Environmental Change and Geopolitics of Tropical America (1600-1825), written in 1999 by J. R McNeill. The article focuses on yellow fever and its impact on South America's political landscape between 1600 and 1825. According to McNeill (176), the introduction of sugar and other environmental disruptions developed a breeding ground for yellow fever. Such an environment favored the slave population of African origin because of their natural immunity to the disease. As a result, this population developed into a decisive majority as other populations died of yellow fever. Revolutions in places like Haiti were enabled by yellow fever that killed expedition soldiers in the plant. Similarly, expedition forces could defend their forcefully acquired territories against other European powers because the newcomers did not have immunity to yellow fever. Aside from yellow fever, McNeill also argues that malaria was instrumental in ending Britain's rule of the modern USA.
Epidemics, therefore, are an essential tool in the expansion or protection of empires when used to one’s ...