Thinking about history, normally the thought of kings, queens, wars, and revolutions comes to our mind. A lesser known fact is that some of the greatest turning points in history weren’t caused by people at all. They were caused by diseases.
The Black Death is one of the greatest examples of the same. During 14th century, it affected Europe claiming countless lives. Farms were abandoned, businesses closed, and life came to a halt. With so many of of the workers gone, surviving laborers suddenly became more valuable. This led to an increase in the wages and changing of the old social systems. Europe was never really the same again.
Centuries later came smallpox, a disease that left scars and took innumerable lives. For generations, it was one of mankind’s greatest fears. Later in 1796, Edward Jenner introduced the first successful vaccine against small pox , and the foundation for modern vaccination was laid. In 1980, smallpox became the first disease to be completely eradicated and still is one of medicine’s paramount achievements.
Then came cholera. During the 1800s, frequent outbreaks destroyed cities throughout the world. During that time, a lot of people believed diseases were spread through “bad air.” That belief was changed by physician John Snow who established that cholera was spread through contaminated water. His investigation helped change the way we think about disease transmission and became a crucial turning point in the field of epidemiology.
And then came the most recent
COVID-19. Beyond the disease itself, it changed the way we work, learn, travel, and connect with one another. Face masks, video calls, remote work, and virtual classrooms became a part of day to day life .
History isn’t shaped just by the decisions we make but also by the diseases we fight and the discoveries they inspire.
How do you think these diseases and outbreaks shaped our history?
MBH/PS