Research in 2019 even concluded that the deaths of some 56 million Native Americans in the 16th and 17th centuries, largely through disease, may have altered Earth’s climate as vegetation growth on previously tilled land drew more CO2 from the atmosphere and caused a cooling event. It weakened the population so they were unable to resist Spanish colonizers and left farmers unable to produce needed crops. The disease killed many of its victims and incapacitated others. In 1520, the Aztec Empire was destroyed by a smallpox infection. This scenario repeated itself throughout the Americas. By 1548, the population stood at less than 500. Upon arrival on the island of Hispaniola, Christopher Columbus encountered the Taino people, population 60,000. With no previous exposure, these diseases devastated indigenous people, with as many as 90 percent dying throughout the north and south continents. 1492: The Columbian Exchangeįollowing the arrival of the Spanish in the Caribbean, diseases such as smallpox, measles and bubonic plague were passed along to the native populations by the Europeans. Ravaging populations in Greenland, Vikings lost the strength to wage battle against native populations, and their exploration of North America halted. The British feudal system collapsed when the plague changed economic circumstances and demographics. Dead bodies became so prevalent that many remained rotting on the ground and created a constant stench in cities.Įngland and France were so incapacitated by the plague that the countries called a truce to their war. when plague sufferers arrived in the port of Messina, it spread throughout Europe rapidly. Responsible for the death of one-third of the world population, this second large outbreak of the bubonic plague possibly started in Asia and moved west in caravans. Now known as Hansen’s disease, it still afflicts tens of thousands of people a year and can be fatal if not treated with antibiotics. This belief led to moral judgments and ostracization of victims. Though it had been around for ages, leprosy grew into a pandemic in Europe in the Middle Ages, resulting in the building of numerous leprosy-focused hospitals to accommodate the vast number of victims.Ī slow-developing bacterial disease that causes sores and deformities, leprosy was believed to be a punishment from God that ran in families. It is believed to be the first significant appearance of the bubonic plague, which features enlarged lymphatic gland and is carried by rats and spread by fleas. Recurrences over the next two centuries eventually killed about 50 million people, 26 percent of the world population. It is also credited with creating an apocalyptic atmosphere that spurred the rapid spread of Christianity. The plague changed the course of the empire, squelching Emperor Justinian's plans to bring the Roman Empire back together and causing massive economic struggle. 541 A.D.: Justinian Plagueįirst appearing in Egypt, the Justinian plague spread through Palestine and the Byzantine Empire, and then throughout the Mediterranean. In 444 A.D., it hit Britain and obstructed defense efforts against the Picts and the Scots, causing the British to seek help from the Saxons, who would soon control the island. There were recurring outbreaks over the next three centuries. Possibly starting in Ethiopia, it passed through Northern Africa, into Rome, then onto Egypt and northward. Named after the first known victim, the Christian bishop of Carthage, the Cyprian plague entailed diarrhea, vomiting, throat ulcers, fever and gangrenous hands and feet.Ĭity dwellers fled to the country to escape infection but instead spread the disease further. This plague continued until about 180 A.D., claiming Emperor Marcus Aurelius as one of its victims. Symptoms included fever, sore throat, diarrhea and, if the patient lived long enough, pus-filled sores. The Huns then infected the Germans, who passed it to the Romans and then returning troops spread it throughout the Roman empire. The Antonine plague was possibly an early appearance of smallpox that began with the Huns. The disease, suspected to have been typhoid fever, weakened the Athenians significantly and was a significant factor in their defeat by the Spartans. The symptoms included fever, thirst, bloody throat and tongue, red skin and lesions. As much as two-thirds of the population died. After the disease passed through Libya, Ethiopia and Egypt, it crossed the Athenian walls as the Spartans laid siege. The earliest recorded pandemic happened during the Peloponnesian War. See a timeline below of pandemics that, in ravaging human populations, changed history. The more civilized humans became, building cities and forging trade routes to connect with other cities, and waging wars with them, the more likely pandemics became. READ MORE: See all pandemic coverage here.
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