According to Cook and Borah, the major population declines in OTL Mexico with European contact were complete in roughly 50 years (from 25.2 million to 2.7). After that Mexico only lost 3/4ths of its population. Now assuming that the Chinese spread disease by roughly 1430-1440, by the time Cortez arrives the population will probably be on the upswing, but there won't be nearly as many people as in OTL. Of course its unclear how many deaths arose from the Spanish conquest and occupation so this Mexico will have more people then our Mexico the same years after conquest.
Besides gold, chocolate is also a possible trade good back to China.
Didn't the Chinese population go way up after the introduction of American crops ? I'm not sure of the exact numbers, but I'm fairly certain it was significant. In fact this could be the second most important difference in this TL, that China's population boomed first.
Besides gold, chocolate is also a possible trade good back to China.
Didn't the Chinese population go way up after the introduction of American crops ? I'm not sure of the exact numbers, but I'm fairly certain it was significant. In fact this could be the second most important difference in this TL, that China's population boomed first.