Mackenzie Perkins
2/3/15
The Plague of Athens
The Plague of Athens affected the city-state of Athens in ancient Greece during the Peloponnesian War. The plague started in Ethiopia, moved to Egypt and from there was brought by ship to Athens through Piraeus, which was the city’s large port for food and other supplies. The Spartan army, a very strong land based power, forced the Athenians to retreat behind their city walls and rely on their navy. People from the countryside were forced to move into the already very populated city, this over population caused a lack of food and supplies. The biggest problem of living in close quarters was poor hygiene and human waste (feces, dead bodies, etc), which became a breeding ground for disease. They were thought to have Typhoid fever, caused by salmonella poisoning. Physicians at the time were unaware of the nature of this disease and were often the ones who died first because they were most in contact with those who were sick. Socially, people stopped fearing the law because they believed they were already going to die. People started spending their money with the idea that they were going to die soon so they might as well enjoy it while they can. Since the plague affected people regardless of your devotion towards the gods, people felt abandoned and felt it pointless to continue worshiping them, which caused religious uncertainty and doubt. The plague of Athens changed the course of history, Athens was broken and Sparta deprived Athens of their navy and their land forces were destroyed.
The part that surprised me most was just thinking about the fear and uncertainty that they were feeling during that time. It makes sense that people would start disobeying the laws when they are pretty certain that they are going to die, but it is a concept that I can only think about and not fully understand since I have not lived through something like this.
It seems obvious to people in the 21st century that enclosing or “locking down” a whole city-state behind walls in a confined, overcrowded place, with poor hygiene, was not a smart move. They obviously felt as if that was their only way to stay protected but it also the move that brought them to their downfall.