136-175 The Ecological History of Humankind

Formerly available as 136-032. Students who have completed 136-032 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

This subject explores the relationship between biological facts (those governing health and disease) and the social structures and behaviour that affect them. 'Ecological' means the inter-relationship between disease organisms, their human hosts, food supplies, climate and physical environment. But the organization of societies and their cultures also affects these ecologies-for instance, the mobility and low density of hunter-gatherer societies prevented the rise of many infectious diseases. The development of agricultural society saw a deterioration in nutrition and human stature, and the transfer of diseases from domesticated animals to humans. As population densities grew, so diseases acquired the host populations to become endemic. Crowded urban industrial conditions and malnutrition spread pulmonary tuberculosis. Diseases have moved around the world with migrations of peoples (cholera), along trade routes (the Black Death), and through the dislocations of warfare (influenza, typhus), and played a major role in the conquest of native peoples in colonialism. This is a history of humanity's struggle to live in competition with other organisms, and is shaped by scientific knowledge of these organisms as well as by historical knowledge of human society over time. (No science or history background required.)

Written work totalling 4000 words. There is a hurdle requirement of 80% attendance at tutorials.

A subject reader will be available.

• W H McNeill, Plagues and Peoples. Anchor (paperback).
• JDiamond, Guns, Germs and Steel, The Fates of Human Societies. Viking (paperback).