WS 23 - Ancient Cultures, Migrations and Health

Since the beginning of evolution, humans and pathogens have been locked in a continuous arms race; health and disease were and continue to be directly linked with cultural and population changes, providing important possible lessons for dealing with today’s health challenges. Ten thousand years ago in the Early Neolithic period, the shift to a sedentary lifestyle, larger populations and domesticated animals resulted in an increase of infectious diseases. Epidemics have since then shaped human history, including the colonization of the New World as well as the Black Death.

The link between cultural and economic changes and the spread of pandemics has been a continuous source of debate. Recent genomic analyses support the notion that the Y Pestis was the cause of the Black Death pandemic and the Justinian Plague (Wagner et al. 2014, Bos et al 2011). These findings enabled historians to uncover the significance of Mediterranean, African and Asian communications systems in explaining the spread of diseases. The spread of pathogens has also been linked to intensified trade and human mobility. The Roman communication system and the Chinese Silk Road boosted world economic activity yet also facilitated the transmission of diseases. These findings shed new light on the possible impact and consequences of modern migration in relation to understanding and responding to new health threats.