Epidemics and Pandemics: What Lessons from History?

Abstract

Intrinsically linked to human existence, viruses have accompanied and marked the different stages of the development of civilization. Today, confronted with a new "enemy", the Covid-19, our societies seemed once again dumbfounded by this challenge before they reacted. This article will try to recall, through a historical approach, how much the great global epidemics and pandemics have shaped our world, and to show that often, from a societal point of view, the same stages are repeated.