Plagues and PeoplePlagues and People

Kyle DeKlerkKyle DeKlerk

Man the HunterMan the Hunter

Balance between parasites and hostBalance between parasites and host Cultural evolution creates disruptionCultural evolution creates disruption Major steps away from balance skills and Major steps away from balance skills and

tools to hunt (as early as 4 mil yrs ago), tools to hunt (as early as 4 mil yrs ago), language, and clothes led to civilizationslanguage, and clothes led to civilizations

Man the FarmerMan the Farmer

Humans shaped environmentHumans shaped environment Changed diseasesChanged diseases Irrigation helped diseases thriveIrrigation helped diseases thrive Africa (malaria and mosquito)Africa (malaria and mosquito) Viral diseases thrived in almost all Viral diseases thrived in almost all

civilizations because of growing population civilizations because of growing population Unusual because of Immune systemUnusual because of Immune system

Man the Farmer cont.Man the Farmer cont.

Many diseases shared with domesticated Many diseases shared with domesticated animalsanimals

Poultry 26, Rat 32, Horse 35, Pig 42, Poultry 26, Rat 32, Horse 35, Pig 42, Sheep 46, Cattle 50, Dog 65Sheep 46, Cattle 50, Dog 65

Bubonic Plague (rats)Bubonic Plague (rats) Lassa fever Uganda 1969 (rodents)Lassa fever Uganda 1969 (rodents)

ChinaChina

China great power began moving south China great power began moving south Large difference in climate between North Large difference in climate between North

and Southand South More parasites in South than in North More parasites in South than in North Chinese historiographer recorded from Chinese historiographer recorded from

145 B.C.- 87 B.C. low population in South 145 B.C.- 87 B.C. low population in South China males seemed died at a young ageChina males seemed died at a young age

Chinese able to thriveChinese able to thrive

IndiaIndia

Irrigation of the Ganges vital to multiple Irrigation of the Ganges vital to multiple harvestsharvests

Irrigation helped keep viruses aliveIrrigation helped keep viruses alive Surplus was maintained and population Surplus was maintained and population

grewgrew

MediterraneanMediterranean

Trade was important Trade was important Very cramped passed on infections easilyVery cramped passed on infections easily Hippocrates recorded many diseases in Hippocrates recorded many diseases in

ancient Greeceancient Greece Population able to growPopulation able to grow

EurasiaEurasia

By the Christian Era India, China, By the Christian Era India, China, Mediterranean 50 mil Mediterranean 50 mil

Unbalance between parasites and human Unbalance between parasites and human host host

Civilizations vulnerable to unfamiliar Civilizations vulnerable to unfamiliar infectionsinfections

All 3 suffered from outbreaksAll 3 suffered from outbreaks

Eurasia cont.Eurasia cont.

Infections began to come up unexpectedly Infections began to come up unexpectedly probably due to tradeprobably due to trade

Unexpected death strained society Unexpected death strained society especially in Rome around 100 A.D.especially in Rome around 100 A.D.

Mongol RuleMongol Rule

Mongols took over AsiaMongols took over Asia Re-established tradeRe-established trade Some small epidemics Some small epidemics Brought rats and items infected with Brought rats and items infected with

Bubonic PlagueBubonic Plague Very deadlyVery deadly Small scale reoccurrence in late 1800’s Small scale reoccurrence in late 1800’s

and again early 1900’sand again early 1900’s

Transoceanic ExchangesTransoceanic Exchanges

Not much evidence in America before Not much evidence in America before European controlEuropean control

Spaniards defeated Aztecs (Smallpox) Spaniards defeated Aztecs (Smallpox) Less advanced than EurasiaLess advanced than Eurasia Some diseases but much better balanceSome diseases but much better balance Smallpox Hispaniola 1518 Cortez in Smallpox Hispaniola 1518 Cortez in

America 1520America 1520

Transoceanic cont.Transoceanic cont.

Syphilis and typhus to Europe during war Syphilis and typhus to Europe during war time possibly from trade with Americastime possibly from trade with Americas

Maize, potatoes, tomatoes, chili peppers, Maize, potatoes, tomatoes, chili peppers, peanuts, and manioc brought infectionspeanuts, and manioc brought infections

Medical ScienceMedical Science

First steps were religious sometimes good First steps were religious sometimes good sometimes badsometimes bad

Gradually began to developGradually began to develop By the 15By the 15thth century Italy began quarantine century Italy began quarantine Bubonic plague helped cope with syphilisBubonic plague helped cope with syphilis Treatment for syphilis trial and errorTreatment for syphilis trial and error

Medical Science cont.Medical Science cont.

Food production and diet Food production and diet Healthier cropsHealthier crops More cattle feed better cattle feed More cattle feed better cattle feed Malaria carrying mosquito like cattle blood Malaria carrying mosquito like cattle blood

but Malaria virus can’t survive in cattlebut Malaria virus can’t survive in cattle More protein helped the immune systemMore protein helped the immune system Better hygiene laws (waste removal)Better hygiene laws (waste removal)

ConclusionConclusion

First Man and parasites lived in a balanceFirst Man and parasites lived in a balance Cultural evolution of man disrupted Cultural evolution of man disrupted

balancebalance Less frequent more deadly viruses Less frequent more deadly viruses