FRANKOPAN5.mp3 - Mosquito Empires, Slavery, and European Prosperity (17th–18th Centuries) Professor Peter Frankopan | The Earth Transformed: An Untold History The 17th–18th centuries saw "mosquito emp

   FRANKOPAN5.mp3 - Mosquito Empires, Slavery, and European Prosperity (17th–18th Centuries) Professor Peter Frankopan | The Earth Transformed: An Untold History The 17th–18th centuries saw "mosquito empires" where malaria limited European settlement, leading to West Africa being called the "white man's grave." The rise of transatlantic slavery was linked to disease resilience, as many West Africans carried genetic resistance to malaria, making them highly sought-after laborers in the Americas. New American crops like cassava boosted global calorie provision, freeing up labor. European prosperity, especially Britain's, was built on exploiting the Americas and Africa for resources and labor. Massive wealth extraction, such as Robert Clive's seizure of Bengal's treasury, cemented European power. Meanwhile, the decline of indigenous populations in the Americas resulted in substantial reforestation.