Morten St George Theory

[-JKP-]

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1. The great diversity of plants seen in the VMS, whether real or imaginary, is suggestive of climates more diverse than what is found in Europe.

Diversity was not a problem in the Old World, where there is a huge diversity in geography and plants.

From the arctic to Africa, from the coast to the Alps, to inner Russia and Mongolia...Europeans imported plants from Africa, Russia, the Caucasus, the Middle East and even a few that were easy to carry (e.g., certain spices) from India long before the Middle Ages. These plants were from climates that were exceedingly diverse. People were able to get around the Old World more easily than the New World because the Old World was already widely populated and agriculture was already widely established, so it was easier to trade with people and obtain a diversity of plant products in the Old World. Plus the VMS plants tend to fall into certain plant tyoes. They're not as diverse as you imply. Your argument is simply a blind invention that has no basis in fact.

2. Depictions of naked women bathing in plant-infested swamp water is reflective of a warmer climate that what is typically found in Europe.

I don't see any evidence that green means swamp water. There is lots of green water in Europe in natural spa areas. Also, it's possible the VMS is color-coded (e.g., blue for salt water, green for fresh water) and the green water may have no relation to swamp. And who bathes in swamps? They are full of malaria, even New World swamps had malaria in those days. People didn't understand how malaria was transmitted, but they DID understand that swamps had "bad air" (they thought the air caused the malaria). Or the green paint may be simply the result of a limited palette. The VMS palette consists of only five colors: pale amber, red, blue, green, brown (and a trace of white if you want to count that as a color). Not much choice for the water other than blue and green.

These arguments are expandable and go well beyond the mere depiction of a single sunflower or an armadillo.

These arguments are not supported by evidence, particularly #1, which is simply untrue.