INinguna revisión histórica puede negar o minimizar la catástrofe demográfica de los pueblos indígenas del Nuevo Mundo durante el siglo posterior a la Conquista o, en las zonas más aisladas y remotas, durante las décadas posteriores a la llegada de los conquistadores y los colonos. El declive fue rápido en casi todas partes: en algunas zonas -las Grandes Antillas, pobladas por los Taíno-conllevó la rápida extinción de las comunidades; en otras, la incursión produjo el despoblamiento de regiones enteras; en otras, las sociedades quedaron muy debilitadas, lo cual no les impidió recuperarse y reaccionar. La llegada de los europeos, provistos de armas y herramientas de trabajo superiores, así como de un conocimiento experimental y apoyados por las poderosas, aunque lejanas patrias, provocará en todas partes una profunda crisis de las poblaciones autóctonas. Sobre este tema
1.1. The course of Spanish population growth from the end of the 16th to the beginning of the 18th century was set by the effects of what demographers call 'catastrophic' mortality. As in most European populations, the occasional but recurrent ravages of epidemics, especially plague, wiped out the excess of births over deaths accumulated in 'normal' years. How accurate and close to reality this statement is cannot be discussed here; but we shall assume that, until the rSth century, short-term growth was offset by mortality above the normal levels caused by epidemics.
Since death rates from the COVID-19 are highest among the oldest, the impact of the current pandemic in a given society depends to a large extent on the share of elderly persons and their living arrangements. Whereas the former is well known, the latter is not. Arguably, contagion itself and the severity of its symptoms are likely to vary among elderly persons living alone, co-residing with family members or dwelling in institutions. Arguments in favour and against the premise that single-living elderly are better able to self-isolate can be made. Long-term care facilities have worsened the effects of the epidemic because they have often become death traps in some but not all countries. Once contagion takes place, living arrangements can make a huge difference in the way the disease can be managed by the individual, his family and society. Properly understanding the dynamics of contagion and the handling of the disease in terms of living arrangements of elderly people is essential for effectively tackling future outbreaks of similar epidemics.
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