Course Description
An exploration of the juncture between disease and society. The
course emphasizes major demographic events: the epidemiological
shifts of the Neolithic and Industrial ages, the “Columbian
Exchange” of diseases, and the Black Death. It also explores the
history and impact of diseases such as smallpox, malaria,
tuberculosis, and AIDS.
Athena Title
Disease and Human History
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in HIST 2710, HIST 3740H
Pre or Corequisite
Any course in HIST or ECOL or BIOL or CBIO or CHEM or BHSI or BCMB or EHSC or DMAN or GLOB or HONS or IDIS or PBHL
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student learning Outcomes
- By the end of this course, students will be able to arrive at conclusions through gathering and weighing evidence, logical argument, and listening to counter argument.
- By the end of this course, students will be able to write stylistically appropriate papers and essays. Students will be able to analyze ideas and evidence, organize their thoughts, and revise and edit their finished essays.
- By the end of this course, students will be able to identify how the history of disease and human history shaped diverse social and cultural attitudes toward science and medicine, disease and death, and religion and mortality, encouraging them to understand diverse worldviews and experiences.
- By the end of this course, students will be able to apply appropriate methodological approaches to their analysis of primary sources and to organize their evidence to show historical continuities and discontinuities.
Topical Outline
- 1. Paleolithic disease and mortality. Tuberculosis.
- 2. The Neolithic revolution
- 3. Diseases of early historical societies: the first descriptions of infectious diseases
a. Rabies in Mesopotamia
b. Malaria in Greco-Roman history
c. Smallpox in China
d. Leprosy in Hebrew sources
- 4. The Black Death
- 5. The Columbian Exchange
a. The depopulation of the Americas
b. Syphilis
c. Yellow Fever
- 6. The Current Epidemiological Shift in perspective
a. Germs: Urban life, sanitation, and mortality
b. Vaccines: smallpox and polio
c. Antibiotics: their history and future
d. King Cancer
- 7. Emerging diseases: AIDS in our time
Institutional Competencies Learning Outcomes
Analytical Thinking
The ability to reason, interpret, analyze, and solve problems from a wide array of authentic contexts.
Communication
The ability to effectively develop, express, and exchange ideas in written, oral, interpersonal, or visual form.
Critical Thinking
The ability to pursue and comprehensively evaluate information before accepting or establishing a conclusion, decision, or action.
