Ten Afflictions That Changed History Quiz

Answer: The Plague of Athens

It has never been determined exactly what this disease was. Some possibilities are Typhus, Smallpox, Measles, Ebola, Dengue Fever and Bubonic Plague. Whatever it was, it killed a great number of people. This was an enormous setback for a warring city-state, particularly as Athens was involved in war with its usual enemy, Sparta. Wartime conditions, especially in trenches or on possibly contaminated land, lend themselves to many diseases. War also lends itself to chaos and exaggeration, so the numbers given at the time may not be precise, but they are indicative, and the Plague contributed to the decline of the "Golden Age" of Greece.

Answer: Malaria

Malaria continues to infect millions of people every year. It is caused by a mosquito-borne parasite and has at least four varieties. It was highly resistant to drugs, but is now treatable if caught early, and preventable. There were over 1,000,000 cases during the American Civil War alone. Recurrence is high, and it is believed that once it is in the system it will always be there.

The Roman Empire had many problems, splitting into the Western Empire and the Eastern (Byzantine) Empire. It suffered from agrarian problems and silting conditions that caused pollution, fish kills, lack of trade and famine. Rome had enemies on all sides and the city was alternately sacked by the Visigoths, Vandals and other Germanic tribes.

Invasions, internal strife and poor morale were also major issues. Ultimately, the Western Empire could barely support itself or its military. Famine and disease made it even more vulnerable and the Western Empire was finally overthrown by Odoacer in 476 C.E. In May, 2012, the W.H.O. plans to release a 'Global Plan for Insecticide Resistance Management' {GPIRM}.Recommended reading: "Plagues and People" by William H. McNeill, published 1976, from which some of this information is taken.

Answer: The Antonine Plague

Suspected to be carried by Roman troops returning home from newly conquered areas, it is still unknown exactly what this disease was. The main candidates are Measles and Smallpox. The disease killed about 250,000 people of about 5,000,000 infected, including two emperors.

In 251 C.E. a similar disease broke out, then called The Plague of Cyprian, which at its height killed about 5,000 a day in Rome.

Answer: Typhus

Called 'Camp Sickness' because it tends to flare up in wartime, Typhus thrives in cramped, insanitary areas and, together with Bubonic Plague, is said to have been responsible for the deaths of about 8,000,000 Germans during The Thirty Years' War. It was also a major factor in almost wiping out Napoleon's army during his ill-advised invasion of Russia in 1812; the estimate of deaths was about 400,000 - more than those soldiers that died in battle or from any other factor.

In the twentieth century Typhus was responsible for millions of deaths. Since the disease had no particular name in ancient times, people called it "jail fever" or "hospital fever", "war sickness", "ship sickness", or any name associated with large groups of people in poor living conditions, which was ideal for Typhus.

It is carried by body lice, resurfaces often throughout history and thrives well in cool climates. Several planned battles between the many warring powers in Europe were never fought because the troops were too sick. From 1500 to 1914 Typhus killed more soldiers than all military actions combined. Nazi concentration camps were a perfect breeding ground for Typhus; both Anne Frank and her sister, died from it while they were incarcerated.

Answer: Cholera

In the period from about 1815 to the 1960s, Cholera killed millions. It is usually transmitted through contaminated water or food. First noticed in India in 1815, it spread to western Europe and the Americas. 100,000 deaths were reported during the mid nineteenth century.

There are at least seven known pandemics of Cholera in its history. It has since become treatable and the mortality rate is far below the 50% it used to be.

Answer: The Third Pandemic

The "Third Pandemic" was actually the third major outbreak of Bubonic Plague. The plague killed 12,000,000 people in China and India in the mid nineteenth century. It spread to all inhabited continents, tapered off, came back, tapered off, and is considered to be inactive in the early 21st century.

The last known case was in 1995 in the western U.S. However, it could recur. The Black Plague has been around at least seven times in our known history.

Answer: Smallpox

Of all diseases brought into the New World, this was the most virulent and caused the deaths of millions of Native Americans. The Aztec and Incan civilizations were decimated, which was a major factor in their being conquered by the Spanish. In the 18th century, it is estimated that Smallpox killed about 60,000,000 people in Europe alone.

There is the opposite theory that the pox was brought from the New World to the Old. Either or both could be true. In light of the possibility of germ warfare and the creation of mega-viruses, the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, GA., keeps the Smallpox virus safely in level four containment, although the World Health Organization has certified it 'eradicated' as of 1979.

Answer: Plague of Justinian

With an estimated death toll of 100,000,000 worldwide, 5,000 a day at its peak, and including about one quarter of a million people of the eastern Mediterranean region, this was a major factor in stopping the Byzantine Empire from continuing its expansion.

The soldiers were simply too sick! It is not clear exactly what this disease was, perhaps a mutation of another plague. There are at least eight recorded 'Plagues' that were pandemic, and they may be offshoots or types of Bubonic Plague, mutations or combinations of diseases. Diseases, like humans, will adapt in order to survive.

Answer: Spanish Flu

Emerging in 1918, towards the end of WWI, the Spanish Flu killed about 3% of the population between 1918 and 1919 in three separate waves. The death toll worldwide was estimated at from 30 to 50 million; in the U.S. about 675,000 died. It was called 'Spanish' only because Spain was probably the only country that broadcast news of it {Spain was neutral in WWI, and did not worry about troop morale}.

The 21st century H1N1 and similar diseases may be offshoots or mutations of this devastating disease.

It periodically surfaces in waves.

Answer: The Black Death

The Black Death, Bubonic Plague, named for its distinct dark sores called "bubos", is estimated to be responsible for the deaths of up to half the population of Europe at one time. It was characterized by oozing, bleeding sores and this was usually enough to keep people from getting close and spreading it even further.

It was a threat for the next hundred years, surfacing periodically. The last known outbreak was in the late 20th century. It is, however, not considered eradicated, just rare. The "Red Death" was Smallpox, characterized by swollen red blotches which left deep scars in those that survived.

The "Blue Death" was Cholera, which was so-called because of the victim's skin turning blue toward the end. The "Yellow Death" may have been a term for Yellow Fever.