William H. McNeill

Plagues and Peoples

1. IDEA 1

   Disease has shaped history

   McNeill argues that infectious diseases have shaped human history as much as wars, kings and ideas. Epidemics have destroyed empires, changed populations and determined which societies could expand. Germs are history's hidden actors.

2. IDEA 2

   People face two kinds of parasites

   McNeill describes microparasites, like germs, and macroparasites, like rulers and armies who take resources from others. Both have shaped human life. Both feed on human populations in their own ways.

3. IDEA 3

   Civilisations developed disease pools

   McNeill explains that large, crowded civilisations developed their own collections of diseases. Over time, their populations built some immunity. Childhood exposure gave adults some protection against familiar diseases. Immunity was local.

All 8 ideas from Plagues and Peoples →