How Humans Adapt: Plague, Government, and the Rise of Science

Throughout ancient history rapacious diseases repeatedly devastated populations — in many cases proving that bacteria and viruses are far more of a threat than human violence or malfeasance. But humanity’s response to pandemics evolved, as it learned, sometimes in small ways, sometimes large, how to protect itself better.

Even in the Medieval European world, the battle against the plague was not hopeless, and after the Black Death’s initial and brutal assault (1348–50) it’s aftershocks–follow-up outbreaks — were milder, partly because people were more resistant, but more likely because of social and political action on the part of affected communities. This accommodation of the plague was pivotal in the development of government in the medieval/early modern world, for better or worse, since public health entailed greater control and surveillance over populations.

In addition to the growth of government as a consequence of plague, this story can also be seen as one of a scientific method emerging through the mist of history as people used observation to modulate behavior in respect to disease. Whereas in Europe, at least, initial responses to plague were generally hysterical, they soon eased somewhat as people started paying closer attention to the phenomenon–and drawing conclusions. This paid dividends, and responses to subsequent outbreaks of plagues…