Epidemics and Pandemics: Their Impacts on Human History

By Jo Hays and Jo N. Hays

Balancing current and historical issues, this volume of essays covers the most significant worldwide epidemics from the Black Death to AIDS.

Great pandemics have resulted in significant death tolls and major social disruption. Other "virgin soil" epidemics have struck down large percentages of populations that had no previous contact with newly introduced microbes. Written by a specialist in the history of science and medicine, the essays in this volume discuss pandemics and epidemics affecting Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia, covering diseases in ancient times to the present. Each entry combines biological and social information to form a picture of the significance of epidemics that have shaped world history.

The essays cover the areas of major pandemics, virgin soil epidemics, disruptive shocks, and epidemics of symbolic interest. Included are facts about what an epidemic was, where and when it occurred, how contemporaries reacted, and the unresolved historical issues remaining. This fascinating material is written at a level suitable for scholars and the general public.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1851096582
• ISBN13: 9781851096589
• Release Date: December 2005
• Publisher: ABC-CLIO
• Length: 528 Pages
• Weight: 2.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 7.1" x 10.4"

Customer Reviews

An era-by-era approach to plagues

College-level collections strong in health references will find a powerful, lasting volume in EPIDEMICS AND PANDEMICS: THEIR IMPACTS ON HUMAN HISTORY: it takes an era-by-era historical approach to plagues from 430B.C.E. to modern times, covering events around the world from Japan and Medieval Europe to Iceland and the U.S., adds chapters on contemporary concerns, and reviews events, medical responses, unresolved historical issues, and further references for more research. Add black and white vintage illustrations and you have a powerful yet easily accessed health history reference.