Population and Epidemics North of Zacatecas

Abstract

The development of demography for northern New Spain in recent years has relied on parochial archives that are the most accurate records for estimating the incidence of epidemics. Included here is a general survey of the studies on demographics of the North of New Spain, specifying the methodology chosen to track disease episodes and determine their routes of propagation. The impact of epidemics was not the same in the different northerly regions. In fact, the chronology of outbreaks shows that the Northwest and the Northeast did not face the same calamities as the North Central area. However, the mobility of the population and the forced transfers of Indians toward mining centers complicate the research because population growth may not be due necessarily to endogenous causes. In addition, the appearance of epidemics may be underreported, especially those outbreaks affecting peoples beyond the Spanish domination.