外来传染性疾病与美国早期土著民族社会文化的变动

Infectious Diseases From Old World and Transformations of Indian Cultures in Early North America

在考察北美早期土著社会文化衰落的原因时,除了欧洲殖民主义的因素外,我们还要从外来传染性疾病这个因素进行一些阐释。自从15世纪哥伦布踏上新大陆以来,美洲社会所遭遇的已经不仅仅是欧洲殖民主义的侵扰,来自旧世界的各种传染性疾病也不期而至,在自身毫无免疫力的早期土著民族群体中无情肆虐和破坏。就土著社会与文化而言,这些疾病主要在如下方面带来影响:土著部落中的长者死于非命,依赖口耳相传的传统技能、知识与文化丧失殆尽;印第安人传统的信仰体系崩塌,外来信仰体系得以传播和接受;土著社会习俗改变,传统生活方式转型。

When we analyzed the causes of the changes of early American Indian culture, scholars need to pay attention to the influences of infectious Diseases from Old World as well as European Colonialism. Since 1492 when Christopher Columbus landed in the Americas, various infectious diseases from Europe and Africa invaded with the colonizers, which had great havoc on indigenous groups in early America. As far as Indian culture is concerned, the results were manifested as three following aspects. First, many old Indians, most of whom were tribal leaders and religious shamans, died from these new diseases, thus leading to the loss of native traditional technology, knowledge and cultures. Secondly, traditional beliefs were destroyed to a great extent and Christianity was accepted by the American Indians. Last, Indian social customs changed with the invasion of the infectious diseases, so Indian ways of life transformed forever.