Pathogenesis: A History of the World in Eight Plagues

Jonathan Kennedy argues that infectious diseases are the primary drivers of human history, rather than political leaders or military inventions. He tracks eight major pathogens, including the plague, smallpox, and malaria, to show how they altered the course of empires. Kennedy explains how viruses and bacteria facilitated the Neolithic Revolution, aided the collapse of the Roman Empire, and enabled European colonization of the Americas by decimating indigenous populations. He uses archaeological data and genetic sequencing to demonstrate that germs dictated the rise of capitalism and the outcome of major wars.

This book is for readers interested in intersectional history, microbiology, and global health. It appeals to those who want to understand the biological foundations of social inequality and economic development. Readers finish the text with a revised perspective on human agency, recognizing that microscopic organisms often determine which civilizations thrive and which disappear. They gain a scientific framework for interpreting historical shifts, moving away from Great Man theories toward a synthesis of epidemiology and sociology.