The History of Epidemics

Catalog description

This course introduces the history of epidemics from the 1300s to the present day through historical case studies from across the globe, including examples such as the Black eath; Smallpox; Cholera; Influenza; HIV/AIDS; Zika; and most recently, COVID-19. A central focus of the course examines how epidemic and infectious diseases, and human responses to them, have shaped the world history socially, politically, environmentally, medically, and economically to the present day. The analysis of written and visual primary sources, as well as secondary sources, allows this course to ask and answer questions about the experiences of women, men, and children who witnessed epidemics, treated the sick, lived and died during various epidemic outbreaks, and attempted to understand death and disease from a range of perspectives.