Plagues and Pandemics

Catalog description

Black Death to COVID-19: Plagues and pandemics have been significant in world history since the ancient period, and in our contemporary society. How did diseases shape understanding of contagion over time? What kinds of measures were taken to combat disease, and did those steps stigmatize or isolate individuals? What kinds of political, economic, and cultural impacts did the diseases, and public health measures have on individuals and communities? We will cover a number of prominent examples of epidemics, including the Black Death, cholera, AIDS, and COVID-19, exploring their unique, dynamic, and connected histories around the globe. By learning the histories of diverse cultures, we seek to build a better understanding of some of the most urgent epidemics today. AAL, PRE