DISEASE IN ANCIENT GREECE

DISEASE WAS A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR

• Trojan War
• Persian Wars
• Peloponnesian War

During the Trojan war and the deadly plagues, the first records of surgery on the battle fields occurred.
There were also the first medics.

During the Persian Wars, Dysentery struck Xerxes' army and killed 1/3 of the entire army. This led to further development in the treatment of wounds.

THE TREATMENT OF WOUNDS INCLUDED

• Scientific Approach
• Surgeons washed their hands
• Used cauterization
• Used bandages
• No longer amputated

Because of the Peloponnesian war, Athens was overrun by refugees. Typhoid fever broke out, killing 1/3-2/3 of the population of Athens.

This led to the collapse of Athenian morale and mass panic and anarchy ensued.

All of these wars and their effects due to disease had a significant factor in Greek history.