Location

Comstock Memorial Union, MSUM

Document Type

Presentation

Event Website

https://www.mnstate.edu/sac/

Start Date

23-4-2024 12:00 AM

Publication Date

April 2024

Description

The purpose of this study is to use historical analysis, biology, and linguistics to evaluate the reason one of early humanity's greatest civilizations fell. 449 BC marked the end of the Greco-Persian War and the crowning of two new dominate city-states in the Mediterranean, Athens and Sparta. The tensions of these two ideologically different civilizations rose for eighteen years before the two clashed in the bloodiest conflict the world had ever seen at the time. Led by the great Pericles, Athens struggled to resist the most powerful land force of the time, causing him to retreat into the city walls. Within those walls, Athens would be destroyed by a plague so deadly, even the Spartans turned and ran. The plague of Athens led to a Spartan victory and dominance over the Mediterranean, changing the course of history. Using the works of Thucydides, DNA analysis, and pathology it can be concluded that the mysterious plague that destroyed Athens and changed the course of history was Typhoid Fever.

Included in

History Commons

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Apr 23rd, 12:00 AM

The Plague of Athens

Comstock Memorial Union, MSUM

The purpose of this study is to use historical analysis, biology, and linguistics to evaluate the reason one of early humanity's greatest civilizations fell. 449 BC marked the end of the Greco-Persian War and the crowning of two new dominate city-states in the Mediterranean, Athens and Sparta. The tensions of these two ideologically different civilizations rose for eighteen years before the two clashed in the bloodiest conflict the world had ever seen at the time. Led by the great Pericles, Athens struggled to resist the most powerful land force of the time, causing him to retreat into the city walls. Within those walls, Athens would be destroyed by a plague so deadly, even the Spartans turned and ran. The plague of Athens led to a Spartan victory and dominance over the Mediterranean, changing the course of history. Using the works of Thucydides, DNA analysis, and pathology it can be concluded that the mysterious plague that destroyed Athens and changed the course of history was Typhoid Fever.

https://red.mnstate.edu/sac/2024/cah/1