Abstract

ALMUINA, Celso. Pandemics, inseparable companions of human life. População e Sociedade [online]. 2020, n.34, pp.139-156.  Epub Dec 01, 2021. ISSN 0873-1861.

Historians have not studied in depth the many plagues that have affected human kind since ancient times. The consequences of those pandemics were of hugh importance. The first written records are in the Bible, where plagues are defined as "divine plagues". Greek cities or the Roman Empire were often affected by plagues of all sorts. In the Middle Ages it was the Black Death that became most terrifying. In modern times flu and smallpox were the best allies of the Spaniards in their conquest of America. Later, in the 19th century "morbid chollerae" had long and terrible consequences for the population. In the 20th century the so-called "Spanish Flu" followed WW1. In the second half, HIV/AIDS spread and is still with us. What to add about the quick spread of the Covid? Just to remember that plagues and pandemics were not only a thing of past times.

Keywords : Pandemics; Greek cities; Roman Empire; European and American History.

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