A sweeping germ's-eye view of history from human origins to global pandemics Plagues upon the
Earth is a monumental history of humans and their germs. Weaving together a grand narrative of
global history with insights from cutting-edge genetics Kyle Harper explains why humanity's
uniquely dangerous disease pool is rooted deep in our evolutionary past and why its growth is
accelerated by technological progress. He shows that the story of disease is entangled with the
history of slavery colonialism and capitalism and reveals the enduring effects of historical
plagues in patterns of wealth health power and inequality. He also tells the story of
humanity's escape from infectious disease-a triumph that makes life as we know it possible yet
destabilizes the environment and fosters new diseases. Panoramic in scope Plagues upon the
Earth traces the role of disease in the transition to farming the spread of cities the
advance of transportation and the stupendous increase in human population. Harper offers a new
interpretation of humanity's path to control over infectious disease-one where rising
evolutionary threats constantly push back against human progress and where the devastating
effects of modernization contribute to the great divergence between societies. The book reminds
us that human health is globally interdependent-and inseparable from the well-being of the
planet itself. Putting the COVID-19 pandemic in perspective Plagues upon the Earth tells the
story of how we got here as a species and it may help us decide where we want to go.
