Latest / Ancient Greece: Philosophy, Democracy, and Endless War — Fexingo History
The Plague of Athens War Disease and the Collapse of Civic Order
In 430 BC, as Athens was locked in the Peloponnesian War under Pericles' leadership, a devastating plague swept through the city, killing perhaps a third of its population. This episode examines the Plague of Athens — its likely origin (typhoid fever or Ebola-related virus), its symptoms as described by Thucydides, and its catastrophic social and political consequences. We explore how the plague shattered Athenian morale, eroded respect for laws and religion, accelerated Pericles' downfall, and arguably cost Athens the war. Drawing on Thucydides' firsthand account…
The skinny
The skinny isn't ready yet — notes appear once the transcript is processed.