Disease and health in Eurasian societies: A case study of early cholera pandemics (1817-1860)

Abstract

Environmental history is an emerging field within the history discipline that helps in looking at historical change and continuity of human societies in relation with nature. As a tool of enquiry that is able to transcend nation-state borders, national histories and politically framed historical timelines, it is also helpful in the study of vast expanses of land, both temporally and spatially. Thus it is a suitable tool to study historical, social and economic dynamics pertaining to the wider landmass of Eurasia. The focus on the role of environment and geography in the history of Eurasian societies is not new - the rise of agriculture and animal husbandry, histories of settled and nomadic peoples, steppe empires, etc. are well studied topics. Beyond that, however, an often ignored part of shared Eurasian history is that of the influence of disease, and how it has played a pivotal role in shaping the region...