HH4025 HISTORY OF DISEASE: HUMAN EVOLUTION, DISEASE & HEALTH

This course explores how disease has shaped the way humans have evolved, and also how diseases have evolved to exploit humans. After considering the different techniques available to investigate health in past populations, we discuss the biological and genetic impact of disease upon natural selection. The cultural consequences of ill health will also be explored, including the social and religious interpretation of why people became ill, coping strategies by past civilizations to live with diseases significant in their societies, and attempts to heal the sick. List of key topics taught is as follows: 1. Reasons to study health in the past and how to study health in the past 2. Disease, warfare and migration 3. Early attempts to treat disease 4. Common diseases among early and modern Austronesians in East Asia, Southeast Asia and Oceania 5. The origins of human infectious disease 6. Human parasites, allergies and evolution 7. Health in human ancestors 8. Disease in early civilizations 9. Social consequences of disease 10. The future evolution of disease