Smallpox epidemics were responsible for bringing about the end of at least three empires (Barquet, and Domingo, 1997). It was mentioned in ancient Sanskrit from China (1122 BC), and the mummified remains of Ramses V bears scars (from Smallpox) that suggest his death in 1156 BC may have resulted from smallpox (Reidel, 2005). Smallpox is another major infectious disease in history. Although there were several competing theories as to the etiology of the Black Death, analysis of DNA from victims in northern and southern Europe published in 20 indicates that the pathogen responsible was the Yersinia pestis bacterium, probably causing several forms of plague (Haensch et. It caused the deaths of an estimated 75 to 200 million people world-wide, the most devastating was in Europe in the years 1346–53 (ABC/Reuters, 29 January 2008). According to Sherman, these are the main actors that caused the 12 key infectious diseases of smallpox, tuberculosis, syphilis, AIDS, influenza, bubonic plague, cholera, malaria and yellow fever (Sherman, 2007).For example, the most notorious infectious disease during early history was the Black Death (or Bubonic Plague), considered as a pandemic in human history.
In his book, Sherman (2007), a professor emeritus of biology at the University of California Riverside, documents with proofs how bacteria, parasites, and viruses have swept through cities and devastated populations, felled great leaders and thinkers, and in their wake transformed politics, public health, and economies. However, according to Sherman (2007), in his book Twelve Diseases That Changed Our World, there are some most influential ―actors‖ who have changed the course of history, and these are not necessarily kings, presidents or conquers, but nasty, ruthless and microscopic ―beings‖. According to Shulman (2008), there are many ―stars‖ who represent a few powerful individuals-presidents, monarchs, dictators-whose actions can shift a nation‘s/society's development one way or another. Yet, there are nations that have collapsed due to climate and environmental change (Diamond, 2011). Our history informs us that the course of history is often determined by war, in which great conquers and nations are born and great civilizations fall (Iggulden, 2011). Throughout history, infectious diseases have killed millions of people.
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