Indigenous advancements in science and agriculture in 1491 were world-leading, often surpassing European capabilities in specific fields.
The year 1491 is also the final baseline for Indigenous populations before the catastrophic "Great Dying." Upon contact, European diseases like smallpox and measles—to which Native Americans had no immunity—wiped out an estimated 90% of the population . Indigenous advancements in science and agriculture in 1491
: Long thought to be a virgin rainforest, evidence shows it was a "human-made garden" featuring vast orchards and terra preta —nutrient-rich, man-made soil. A deeper dive into like the Maya or Mississippians
A deeper dive into like the Maya or Mississippians? Legacy of 1491
: The Maya utilized the concept of zero centuries before it became common practice in Europe. The Great Dying
: The sudden lack of human forest management led to a massive regrowth of trees, which some scientists argue pulled enough carbon from the atmosphere to contribute to the Little Ice Age . Legacy of 1491
