EPIDEMIC DISEASES IN HUMAN HISTORY

Abstract

Epidemic disease is one of the regular disasters that not only threatens the human health, but also affects the economy, social and political life of many societies and civilizations. In the timeline of human history, there have been a lot of catastrophic epidemics occurred, rapidly spread all over the world, led to many deaths and became the horrible challenges to human existence. This article provides an overview of the epidemics and pandemics in the world history from ancient to modern ages, researches the origins and impacts of some major epidemic diseases such as smallpox, plague (bubonic plague), cholera and influenza on humankind.