Comparing Historical Plagues, Epidemics, & Pandemics

Name: _________

1. Origins of Disease - Think back to what we’ve learned. Fill/Type in the blanks.

During the N________________ Rev________________ people began Ag_____________________. As they began farming and do____________________________ing animals, they began living closer to animals. This caused the first d__________________ to spread.

2. What is the difference between an Outbreak, an  Epidemic & a Pandemic?
Watch This Video!  & This Video, too!                                                                          Answer in the box.  

3. Open This Infographic, zoom in,  and answer the following questions.

  1. Which single outbreak had the highest death toll?       ____         
    When did it happen?    __________
  2. Which single outbreak lasted the longest? ________________ 
    How long?     __________________
  3. How many of these outbreaks have happened in your lifetime?       _______
  4. What impact did the Black Death (Bubonic Plague) have on Europe’s population? _______________
  5. What impact did Smallpox have on the Native American population? _______________________
  6. What impact did the Plague of Justinian have on the ancient Roman Empire? ________________

4. Open This Infographic, zoom in, and answer the following questions.

  1. Which disease is the most contagious? ___________________
  2. Which of these diseases have you had or know someone who has had? ____________________
  3. Which of these diseases are of serious concern in today’s world? __________________________
  4. Why are Measles, Mumps, Smallpox, and Rubella NOT as much of a concern today even though they are much more contagious than the Flu or COVID-19? _______________________________

5. Open These Maps!!! and answer:

  1. Which disease seems to be the most widespread (impacting the largest area)?
    _______________________________________________________________
  2. Look at the maps on slide 7-10. Which regions/countries seem to have been affected by each of these diseases? __________________________________
  3. Which regions/countries seem like they were NOT affected by any of these diseases? ________________________________________________________

6. Timeline of Plagues, Epidemics, & Pandemics Throughout History

The Black Death/Bubonic Plague (1300s)

Watch This Video!!! and answer:

  1. The Plague is caused by a ____________ spread by ___________ which are carried by ________.
  2. How many major Plague pandemics have occurred? _________________
  3. When did they happen? ___________, ____________, ____________.
  4. What were the causes of their spread? (3)
    *
    *
    *
  5. In the 1300s, how much of Europe’s population did the Black Death wipe out? __________________________________________________________
  6. When was the most recent major Bubonic Plague outbreak? ____________

And Watch This Gross Video and answer:

  1. Where did the Black Death of the 1300s have its biggest impact? _______ ______________________________________________________________
  2. How were the bodies of the dead disposed of? _______________________ ______________________________________________________________
  3. Where did the Bubonic Plague originate? ____________________________
  4. What are the symptoms of the Bubonic Plague? ______________________ ______________________________________________________________
  5. Why is it called “the Black Death?” ________________________________ ______________________________________________________________
  6. How many strains of the Plague were actually at work during the 1300s?
    ______________________________________________________________

Smallpox (1500s, 1700s)

Look at This Map that represents the Columbian Exchange!

The Columbian Exchange refers to the trade-off of crops, goods, resources, enslaved Africans, European immigrants, and disease between the Americas, Europe, and Africa, as a result of Columbus’s “discovery” of and European colonization of the New World (the Americas).

  1. In which 3 continents did diseases originate? ___________________________
  2. To which 2 continents did disease spread? _____________________________
  3. Which diseases spread to the Americas? ______________________________
  4. Why did these diseases impact Native American population, possibly killing 90% of the population? ____________________________________________

Look at This Primary Source and

  1. Describe what you see in the picture? What does the picture show/represent?
    ______________________________________________________________

Analyze This Data:

  1. How much did the Native American population in Mexico decline from 1519-1593? _____________________________________________________
  2. Why were the Spanish able to conquer the Aztecs? ______________________
  3. What had a bigger impact on Native American populations, disease or war?

Go to This Website! And:

  1. What caused an outbreak of smallpox among Native Americans along the east coast in the early 1600s? __________________________________________
  2. Read through the primary sources. How did King James I and the English colonists feel about this plague/smallpox outbreak? ______________________
  3. Why did they see it this way? What did they have to gain?  ________________
  4. What percentage of Native American populations were wiped out by this outbreak? ______________________________________________________

Examine This Graph!

  1. How many people died in colonial Boston during the 1721 outbreak? ________
  2. Why do you think that Boston being a port city led to this outbreak? Where do you think this outbreak came from? __________________________________
  3. Why do you think there was an increase in cases from 1776-1779 (what important event was happening in American history)? ____________________

Watch This Video! From 0:00~5:49:

  1. Look at & listen to the conditions at Valley Forge. Why do you think Smallpox spread so quickly? _______________________________________________
  2. Look at & listen to the conditions on the prison ships. Why do you think Smallpox spread so quickly? ________________________________________
  3. What was the mortality rate (% of how many die)? _______________________
  4. Surgeons have learned about inoculation from ________________________.
  5. Describe the inoculation process? __________________________________
  6. Did this gamble with inoculation pay off for Gen. Washington? _____________

Cholera, London, 1850s

Examine This Map! Click on “Layers”. Check & Uncheck the different layers.

  1. Where was the center of this cholera outbreak in London in 1854? Around which landmark? _________________________________________________
  2. Why do you think it spread so quickly? ________________________________
  3. What percentage of London’s Soho neighborhood contracted cholera within 1 week? _________________________________________________________
  4. What was one SOLUTION that ended the last cholera outbreak in London?
    _______________________________________________________________

Watch This Video!

  1. What were the conditions in London that led to this outbreak? ______________
  2. How did John Snow end the outbreak? ________________________________
  3. How does the expression “don’t poop where you eat” apply to this situation?
    _______________________________________________________________

The Spanish Flu Pandemic of 1918

Study This Timeline:

  1. What was the US & the world in the middle of when the Flu Pandemic hit in 1918? _______________
  2. Why does this cause the Flu to spread quickly? _________________________
  3. How many Americans died of the Flu in October 1918? ___________________
  4. In Sept., Oct., Nov., & Dec. 1918, how does the country respond?
  1. How do people respond? ______________________________________
  2. How does the government respond? _____________________________
  3. How do communities respond? _________________________________
  1. How many waves of the Flu were there? _______________
  2. By Feb. 1919, what shortage did the Flu Pandemic expose? _______________

And Watch This Video!

  1. What was the worldwide death toll? __________________________________
  2. More soldiers died of the Flu than on the battlefields of WWI. True or False.
  3. Who were the most vulnerable? _____________________________________
  4. How did it get the name “Spanish Flu”? _______________________________
  5. Since the American media was censored during WWI, how do you think this led to the rapid spread of the Flu? ______________________________________
  6. What actions by Americans contributed to the spread of the Flu? ___________ _______________________________________________________________
  7. What is the biggest lesson to learn from the 1918 Flu Epidemic? ___________ ______________________________________________________________

7. Complete this chart, comparing a few other major outbreaks, epidemics, & pandemics.

Dates of major outbreaks

Locations & demographics of outbreaks

Causes or origins of spread

Impact on patients, Mortality rates

Syphilis

Yellow Fever

Malaria

HIV/AIDS

In conclusion:

  1. Which of these diseases has had the largest impact on the world? How did it impact the world? Be specific. Explain why you think so.

  1. What can we learn from these diseases and how we deal with disease now and into the future?

For Fun:

  1. What are the origins of ZOMBIES?

  1. Do you have a plan if there is a Zombie Apocalypse? What is it?
    If not, maybe you should watch     This Video!

So, what is your plan?