Ep 5. Plague

In season 1 episode 5 of Mankind: The Story of All of Us, titled Plague, viewers are taken through the devastation caused by one of the deadliest diseases in history - the bubonic plague. The episode showcases how the disease, spread through rats and fleas, decimated entire populations across Europe and Asia and forever changed the course of history.

The episode begins by highlighting how trade and exploration during the Middle Ages led to increased contact between different groups of people, which in turn allowed for the spread of diseases. The bubonic plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, was one such disease that was able to travel along trade routes.

Viewers are then introduced to the origins of the plague. Rats, the carrier of the disease, were able to travel with boats carrying goods and reached different parts of the world, including Europe and Asia. The fleas that lived on these rats were infected with the Y. pestis bacterium and would bite humans, transmitting the disease.

The episode then chronicles the first outbreak of the plague in Central Asia in the mid-14th century. From there, the disease quickly spread along trade routes, infecting and killing a significant proportion of the population of Europe and Asia. The episode features interviews with experts who describe the gruesome symptoms of the disease, including painful buboes, chills, fever, and ultimately, death.

As empires collapsed, populations migrated, and social structures were reorganized, the plague continued to devastate people in Europe and across the world. Viewers are taken through the different responses to the disease, including the use of quarantine and isolation measures, the use of herbal remedies, and even the scapegoating and persecution of minority groups.

The episode then brings into focus the impact of the disease on world events. The collapse of entire societies created a vacuum that allowed for new powers and dynasties to arise. Some historians argue that the plague fundamentally changed the course of European history and paved the way for the Renaissance and the Age of Exploration.

The episode also highlights more recent outbreaks of the disease, including the third pandemic in the latter half of the 19th century, which spread from China to different parts of the world due to the expansion of global trade. Viewers are also shown how scientists and public health officials have worked to combat the disease and prevent future outbreaks.

Overall, episode 5 of Mankind: The Story of All of Us offers an in-depth look at the history and impact of one of the deadliest diseases in history. Viewers are taken on a journey that spans centuries, chronicling how the disease devastated entire societies and forever altered the course of history.