Vaccinations - Cherokee Medicine, Colonial Germs: An Indigenous Nation's Fight against Smallpox, 1518–1824 (Volume 11) (New Directions in Native American Studies Series)

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Cherokee Medicine, Colonial Germs: An Indigenous Nation's Fight against Smallpox, 1518–1824 (Volume 11) (New Directions in Native American Studies Series)

Name: Cherokee Medicine, Colonial Germs: An Indigenous Nation's Fight against Smallpox, 1518–1824 (Volume 11) (New Directions in Native American Studies Series)
Price: 17.23 USD
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4.5 of 5 Stars: Vaccinations - Cherokee Medicine, Colonial Germs: An Indigenous Nation's Fight against Smallpox, 1518–1824 (Volume 11) (New Directions in Native American Studies Series)

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Book Synopsis: How smallpox, or Variola, caused widespread devastation during the European colonization of the Americas is a well-known story. But as historian Paul Kelton informs us, that’s precisely what it is: a convenient story. In Cherokee Medicine, Colonial Germs Kelton challenges the “virgin soil thesis,” or the widely held belief that Natives’ lack of immunities and their inept healers were responsible for their downfall. Eschewing the metaphors and hyperbole routinely associated with the impact of smallpox, he firmly shifts the focus to the root cause of indigenous suffering and depopulation—colonialism writ large; not disease.

Kelton’s account begins with the long, false dawn between 1518 and the mid-seventeenth century, when sporadic encounters with Europeans did little to bring Cherokees into the wider circulation of guns, goods, and germs that had begun to transform Native worlds. By the 1690s English-inspired slave raids had triggered a massive smallpox epidemic that struck the Cherokees for the first time. Through the eighteenth century, Cherokees repeatedly responded to real and threatened epidemics—and they did so effectively by drawing on their own medicine. Yet they also faced terribly destructive physical violence from the British during the Anglo-Cherokee War (1759–1761) and from American militias during the Revolutionary War.

Having suffered much more from the scourge of war than from smallpox, the Cherokee population rebounded during the nineteenth century and, without abandoning Native medical practices and beliefs, Cherokees took part in the nascent global effort to eradicate Variola by embracing vaccination. A far more complex and nuanced history of Variola among American Indians emerges from these pages, one that privileges the lived experiences of the Cherokees over the story of their supposedly ill-equipped immune systems and counterproductive responses.

Cherokee Medicine, Colonial Germs shows us how Europeans and their American descendants have obscured the past with the stories they left behind, and how these stories have perpetuated a simplistic understanding of colonialism.

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In your search for historical accounts, don't settle for the same tired narratives. Delve into the extraordinary world of Cherokee Medicine, Colonial Germs: An Indigenous Nation's Fight against Smallpox, 1518–1824 (Volume 11). Historian Paul Kelton challenges the prevailing belief that Native Americans' lack of immunity and ineffective healers were solely responsible for their downfall. He expertly unravels the impact of colonialism, shedding light on the root cause of indigenous suffering. This groundbreaking book paints a vivid picture of the long struggle against smallpox and the triumphs of the Cherokee people in the face of adversity.

Kelton's account takes us back to the dawn of European colonization, peeling away the layers of romanticism to reveal an honest and raw narrative. Beginning with encounters that did little to bring Cherokees into the wider world, he uncovers the true catalyst of suffering and depopulation. The devastating smallpox epidemic triggered by English-inspired slave raids in the 1690s led to an ongoing battle with disease and violence. Yet, the Cherokees did not succumb to despair. Drawing on their own medicine and resilience, they effectively responded to real and threatened epidemics throughout the eighteenth century.

This compelling book not only highlights the Cherokees' triumph over disease; it exposes the incredible hardships they endured during the Anglo-Cherokee War and the Revolutionary War. Despite suffering more from the scourge of war than from smallpox, the Cherokee population rebounded in the nineteenth century due to their indomitable spirit. Embracing vaccination, they actively participated in the global effort to eradicate Variola, all while preserving their unique medical practices and beliefs.

Cherokee Medicine, Colonial Germs offers a fresh perspective on the history of smallpox among American Indians. It dismantles the simplistic understanding propagated by Europeans and their descendants. By privileging the lived experiences of the Cherokees, this book provides an invaluable insight into the complex and nuanced nature of colonialism. Strengthen your understanding of history and challenge the conventional narratives by immersing yourself in this illuminating journey.

Ready to explore the fascinating world of Cherokee Medicine, Colonial Germs? Uncover the hidden truths and untold stories that have shaped our understanding of indigenous history. Get your hands on this captivating volume from the New Directions in Native American Studies Series now. Embrace the opportunity to broaden your knowledge and discover a perspective that will forever change the way you view history. Order your copy today!

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