Ancient Plagues

Plague in the Ancient World
Two devastating ancient plagues were the Athenian (430 B.C.) and the Justinianic (A.D. 542). Article looks at the evidence for Bubonic plague and mentions Anthrax only as contributing to the general disorder by wiping out cattle.

In some cases plague may really have been anthrax or TB (according to www.biology.lsa.umich.edu/courses/bio118/plague.htm).

Hippocratic Epidemics
Hippocrates looks at symptoms of contagious diseases and describes epidemics.

Overview of Hippocratic Epidemics
Explains what epidemic means and what Hippocrates did and did not write about in his study of such illnesses.

Pests, Plagues and Politics
Plague has long been endemic in China with more than 290 epidemics between 243 BC and 1911.

The Plague in Athens During the Peloponnesian War
Historical background to Thucydides' plague description.

Previous Page: Plagues and Poxes