Empires Fall, Forests Rise
In the 16th century, the diseases Europeans brought to the New World decimated native peoples. With no natural defense against smallpox, yellow fever, and a host of exotic new pathogens, 90 percent of the population was dead by 1600. The reforestation that came next may have ushered in one of the first instances of human-induced climate change, helping cause the Little Ice Age. | Discovery News Video