PODCAST · history

Malaria in Greek History

by William Henry Samuel Jones, Edward Theodore Withington

This insightful book seeks to expand on the theory initially proposed in the earlier work, Malaria. It highlights the relentless struggle for survival that humans have faced—not just from one another, but from wild animals and disease parasites as well. While our ancestors triumphed over beasts long before history was recorded, parasites have remained persistent adversaries. Throughout history, countless tribes have been devastated by plagues such as kala-azar and measles. Even when these diseases don’t result in complete devastation, they can severely weaken a nation, making it vulnerable to conquest by healthier neighbors. This volume delves into how malaria contributed to the decline of ancient Greek civilization, featuring compelling statistics from the Greek Anti-Malarial League and a thorough evaluation of malarial literature. (Summary by Leon Harvey)