In Germs, Genes and Civilization

In Germs, Genes and Civilization, Dr. David Clark tells the story of the microbe-driven epidemics that have repeatedly molded our human destinies. You’ll discover how your genes have been shaped through millennia spent battling against infectious diseases. You’ll learn how epidemics have transformed human history, over and over again, from ancient Egypt to Mexico, the Romans to Attila the Hun. You’ll learn how the Black Death epidemic ended the Middle Ages, making possible the Renaissance, western democracy, and the scientific revolution. Clark demonstrates how epidemics have repeatedly shaped not just our health and genetics, but also our history, culture, and politics. You’ll even learn how they may influence religion and ethics, including the ways they may help trigger cultural cycles of puritanism and promiscuity. Perhaps most fascinating of all, Clark reveals the latest scientific and philosophical insights into the interplay between microbes, humans, and society – and previews what just might come next.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1. Introduction: our debt to disease
Chapter 2. Where did our diseases come from?
Chapter 3. Transmission, overcrowding, and virulence
Chapter 4. Water, sewers, and empires
Chapter 5. Meat and vegetables
Chapter 6. Pestilence and warfare
Chapter 7. Venereal disease and sexual behavior
Chapter 8. Religion and tradition: health below or heaven above?
Chapter 9. Manpower and slavery
Chapter 10. Urbanization and democracy
Chapter 11. Emerging diseases and the future 

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