Disease in World History
Introduction: How has disease affected humans from 1300 to the present?
Diseases contrast massively in their morbidity or their incidence in a specific section of persons. The death aspect of these diseases has dogged the degree of part in history. For instance, diseases like leprosy and syphilis are not transmittable and not deadly; however they are enduring and quite a major distress to people. These diseases have brought about to introduce medicine to do away with them; Alexander Fleming who came up with penicillin to do away with plague, pneumonia and syphilis and Edward Jenner who came up with cow pox vaccine after small pox, these and other diseases were meant to stop the spread of these diseases. Considering that stringent efforts have been put in place to eliminate these diseases, others have gone on to evade them, a good example is HIV/AIDs which is highly mutable hence quite elusive to treatment (Aberth, pp. 3). There have similarly been other diseases that had been well controlled but have since changed to bring immense devastation to the human society; such diseases are like TB, influenza and malaria. The modern age has led to the thought of medicine. The coming to being of medicine has led to the understanding that diseases are brought about by tiny germs which has dogged human from history. Studies of diseases led to great efforts to be made by a French chemist Louis Pasteur and the German, Robert Koch to acquire microorganisms. French group in 2000 were able to acquire the DNA of Yersinia pestis; believed to be cause of Black Death in Europe and Middle East. The look into the remains of dead humans in the past has become significant to fight against diseases (Aberth, pp. 4). Success was noted with the ability for explanation of these diseases, through scientific advancement, and further development from authors from the historical times (Aberth, pp. 5).
Black Death: Was the Black Death a positive or negative event on human history? Use examples from at least two different primary sources to prove your theory.
The Black Death was a negative happening in the human past. In terms of social aspects of life, chronicler made a record of the negative implication that Black Death had on families; brothers left other brothers, husbands left their wives and parents left their children. The traditional accepted cord of behavior started to fall wreck (Aberth, pp. 21). According to contemporary views about Black Death, it was thought that a form of punishment to human for their sins. The clergy were critiqued for their not being able to meet the desires of the parishioners in the event of the Black Death which involved confessions and issuing last rites (Aberth, pp. 22). The archbishop of Canterbury, Simon Islip criticized the clergy for leaving their parish; the clerics were termed to as being greedy (Aberth, pp. 23). There was tension that experienced as well as scapegoating between religious groups. The Jews were labeled as ‘Christ kill’ bringing about rivalry and hatred. Economically, Black Death had further adverse effects on the economy of the country. According to observers Henry Knighton and al-Maqrizi from England and Egypt respectively, the high numbers of death brought about a decline in suppliers and customers, though bringing about higher wages for the workers and decline of prices culminating to high living standards, another section of people suffering were the lords due to this. Lords were not able to acquire competition labor; they liberated serfs in the labor services so as to acquire rents, hence leaving their farms. There were labor laws that set the wages and prices to what they were before the Black Death. These led tensions, revolts and prosecution of criminals (Aberth, pp. 22).
Small Pox: How did small pox affect the indigenous population of the New World? Discuss two specific examples; one from Central America, and one from North America.
There is great impact on the indigenous people of the New World. The Native Americans suffered from varied forms of infections; venereal, respiratory and intestinal, the natives had no initial contact with these diseases and hence had no manner of defending themselves in their immune systems, the most deadly was small pox. Small pox was less susceptible to certain section of people; the Africans and Europeans while for the Americans died in large numbers. The death of the tribal leaders brought about the lack of morals in the society and lack of faith in the institutions, practices and beliefs leading to a decline in birth and substitution rates. A study in Mexico showed that the coming into being of small pox in the indigenous population starting in the 16th century did look down upon the courage and belief in their healing practices as undertaken by shamans or hechiceros. This brought about the Jesuit evangelists to baptize several natives who attributed it to be a ‘cleansing of the soul.’ The handlers were set to benefit immunity from small pox. The illness was termed to as a form of punishment for their sins (Aberth, pp. 56). Small pox has brought about a decline in population as noted in North America (Aberth, pp.53). Small pox set the stage for other diseases join in; the level of mortality death was quite high, this led to a massive form of tragedy to the human population (Aberth, pp. 54).
Plague: How did cases of plague in late 19th century India exemplify western Imperialism? How did the native population respond and what was “native agency”? Provide two specific examples.
The British colonial policy was determined to bring about western science and medicine to Indian which was its colony. The plague efforts were related to torture and death. Patients were removed from their homes and taken to hospitals where their chances of getting better were quite limited. Patients hence feared going to the hospitals and held the belief that going to the hospitals brought about the danger of dying. Measures also brought about the spread of infections when they moved from where they stayed or hid cases in other places so as evade being hospitalized. The British colony also undertook house searches and disinfections, here house property were taken outside and sprayed with antiseptic and rubbish was done away with. The locals responded by sending healthy people instead of the sick ones when there were n roll-calls, others went on to hide their dead bodies in heaps of dirt or walling their clothes which were infected and induced the indigenous healers to treat patients as suffering from asthma or bronchitis as opposed to suffering from plague (Aberth, pp. 81). The most effective was to remove them from the infected place; this was done voluntarily by the locals in terms of their customs. Native urgency showed the steps that were taken by the British authorities to manage the native resistance. These steps included hospitalization and segregation in terms of the local familial and religious matters (Aberth, pp. 82). The hospital staff involved poisoning the locals, taking by force the property for the objective of extortion, necessary inoculation and the trimming of healing balm (Aberth, pp. 83).
AIDS: AIDS was treated differently in Uganda versus South Africa. Compare and contrast the varying experiences using two specific examples.
The coming into being of HIV/AIDs has brought with it notable responses. In Rakai, Uganda, the large numbers of death has forced the locals to end their traditional period of mourning form four days to one so as to meet their farming needs. In South Africa, there has been conflicts created between the western and medicine and indigenous set ups when the president attributed the query as to whether HIV was the reason for AIDs (Aberth, pp. 125). There have been other areas where Uganda and South Africa’s contrasted. In composition with the historical roots, extreme risk aspects and lack of technologies, AIDS in Uganda is quite high which tends to affect adults in the better part of their lives and has proved quite fatal in the age range of 15-49. It has hence become a massive form of concern, whereas in countries like South Africa which is relatively rich, has low concern about it (Aberth, pp. 126).
Conclusion: What do all of these examples of disease have in common?
Black Death, Small Pox, Plague and AIDs have all have the same form of impact in several countries all over the world; America, Europe and Africa among others. These diseases have not failed to bring about deadly impact in the affected population; several people have died leading stringent efforts to be put in place. The countries affected have made use of the locals and the authority in place to try and manage these diseases; intense search for medicine as well ways to prevent and cure them. Moreover, to prevent the spread of these diseases elimination from the others have been applied to stop its spread. These diseases also brought about a change of their normal lives. The indigenous people who laid their beliefs and trust in the traditional methods had to come up with new ways to handle the epidemic facing them; some traditions were done away with while others brought the need to improve on the cultures that they had in place for better ones.
Works Cited
Aberth, John. The First Horseman: Disease in Human History. Pearson Prentice Hall, New Jersey. 2007.
