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What was the most destructive English "weapon" that devastated the native population?

User BOSS
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2 Answers

15 votes
15 votes

Answer: Smallpox

Step-by-step explanation:

It is unknown when smallpox first appeared as a natural disease in prehistory. The fifth and seventh centuries saw the introduction of smallpox to Europe, and the Middle Ages saw repeated epidemics of the disease. The sickness had a significant impact on the rise of Western civilization.

The Spanish and Portuguese conquistadors imported smallpox, which was unknown in the New World. The epidemic wiped off the local population and contributed to the fall of the Inca and Aztec empires. Like this, early settlers brought the disease to North America's eastern coast, where it caused the native population to dwindle. One of the first instances of biological warfare was likewise inspired by the catastrophic consequences of smallpox.

User Axel Ros
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8 votes
8 votes

Answer: a piece of yew four to six feet in length with a string made from linen or hemp. But what made the English longbow so devastating was its range and accuracy—some scholars have estimated a well-trained archer could hit his target from up to 270 yards away, although 75 to 80 yards was probably a more realistic average. The usual tactic didn't depend on aim, though. Instead, a row of archers would release a volley of arrows into a line of enemy troops, thus wiping out most of them before they got close enough for hand-to-hand combat.

Step-by-step explanation:

User Dexiang
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