A collection of nine excerpts from historical accounts of epidemics: two from ancient sources, one from the Black Death in 14th century Europe, one from the 1665 Plague of London, one from the late 18th century Yellow Fever outbreak in Philadelphia, two from smallpox epidemics on Native American reservations in the late 19th century, and two from the influenza pandemic of 1918.

All readings include a brief introduction to the historical context, a glossary, discussion questions, and sources. Discussion questions can be edited to support learning in various disciplines.

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

Describe the European societies that engaged in conversion, conquest, and commerce
Discuss the motives for and mechanisms of early European exploration