From the Plague to COVID-19: the social impact of pandemics

Abstract

The aim of this article is to retrace the history of pandemics which have affected humanity since ancient times. Collective reactions to the rapid spread of an infection have often determined a rupture with the preexisting social order. These transformations, sometimes dramatic and violent, haven’t always brought negative outcomes. The establishment of modern medicine and artistic production has often been linked to these historical moments.