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Point of Divergence ... The invasion of the Americas by the Conquistadors was not only savage in terms of warfare, but in terms of what illnesses they brought with them. Smallpox was one of the major factors in what brought down the Native population. Cortes in particularly was one of the most bloodthirsty and savage, bringing down the Aztec Empire in one swoop and killing Montezuma.

What if the invasion of the Aztec Empire progressed as it did in history but for one crucial difference? Lets say on the return trip to Spain, one of the soldiers on the ship gets sick and eventually dies. The physician on board is at a loss to say what caused it. Pretty soon, the entire ship's crew, save for a few select men, are laid up sick. Upon returning to Spain, Cortes, who has somehow manged to remain healthy, reports to his sovereign. The sick crew meanwhile is taken to a local hospital. As the crew members die one by one, the physicians are horrified to realize this is a disease they have never seen before. And it is spreading. Fast. What might this disease be, how fast does it spread, and what happens to Europe?
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